Though in separate camps, Jun Manzo and Steve Akomo will forever be brothers.
So when news broke out earlier this week that the 6-foot-9 Cameroonian was nursing a blood clot in his head, Manzo was devastated.
“Two years kami nagsama sa Cebu.
“Siyempre, nag-aalala ako. Parang kapatid ko na yun sa Cebu e,” shared the 21-year-old UP floor general. “Naglolokohan nga kami palagi nun sa game e. Lagi ko siyang niyayakap tapos tatanong ko lagi, ‘Kamusta ka na? Anong balita sa yo?'”
For two years, both Manzo and Akomo were the pillars for the University of Visayas Green Lancers. The duo’s highlight was bringing the Green Lancers to the CESAFI Finals back in the league’s 2015-16 season. However, they could not cop the gold, falling to the University of San Carlos Warriors in the finale.
“Yung Finals namin against San Carlos, yun yung pinakamasaya sa aming dalawa,” Manzo confessed. “Every game nun, kahit na may iniinda siya, naglaro siya at lumaban siya para makuha yung championship.
“Sayang lang hindi namin nakuha pero sobrang saya nun.”
Manzo and Akomo then moved to Manila in 2016, and were able to suit up a year later with the UP Fighting Maroons and the UST Growling Tigers, respectively.
Allegedly, Akomo sustained a concussion against the Adamson Soaring Falcons last September 22. Still, he played a week later and was then confined after another week.
And it came to no surprise for Manzo that Akomo still tried to fight on.
“Ganun talaga yung ugali niya. Kahit nasasaktan siya, naglalaro pa rin siya. Kaya dun talaga ako bilib sa kanya.”
Despite his busy schedule in UP, Manzo vows that he will pay plenty of visits to Akomo as he recovers.
