It had just been six months since his collegiate career ended but Justin Arana is already missing Arellano University.
And when the Chiefs opened their NCAA Season 98 campaign against season host Emilio Aguinaldo College, the fourth overall pick in the 2022 PBA Rookie Draft made sure to be there.
After all, he wanted to make sure that he will be there for his former teammates and head coach Cholo Martin.
“Parang gusto ko ulit mag-college eh.
“Parang gusto ko ulit maglaro eh kasi dito ako nagsimula,” said the 23-year-old big man of Converge, who is a two-time NCAA Defensive Player of the Year. “Pero naeenjoy ko naman. Pero ayun na nga, medyo nakaka ano rin kasi last year naglalaro pa lang ako dito then ngayon nanonood na lang ako.”
Arana had been the defensive lynchpin of Arellano for the past three seasons, moving there from University of Santo Tomas.
Now that he is gone, the 6-foot-7 big man is confident that the Chiefs have found an able replacement in Cade Flores, a 6-foot-4 banger who is a blue-collar worker like him.
In their 63-58 win over the Generals, Arana was proven right as Flores produced a statline of nine points and 13 rebounds — numbers he used to put up on a nightly basis.
Definitely, Arana sees himself in Flores.
“Masaya ako na parang… Same kami ng story eh, siya from FEU, ako from UST na medyo hindi nagagamit ganon. Kumbaga maganda… tama yung desisyon niya na pumunta siya dito,” Arana said.
“Mashoshowcase niya dito yung talent niya talaga.”
