Some comparisons are earned through championships, others through the way players impose themselves on the court.
For National University big men Kenshin Padrones and PJ Palacielo, their stocky frames, physicality, and low-post grit have already drawn comparisons to Rain or Shine’s iconic “Extra Rice” duo of Beau Belga and JR Quiñahan.
That has earned the Bulldogs pair a fitting moniker of their own: “Extra Half Rice.”
Still carving out their own careers, Padrones and Palacielo have embraced the comparisons to Belga and Quiñahan, who won two PBA championships together with the Elasto Painters under coach Yeng Guiao.
On Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, the NU duo showed why the comparison has stuck, combining for 20 points and 19 rebounds in the Bulldogs’ 76-56 victory over University of the East.
After the win, Palacielo pointed to the similarities in their playing styles with the beloved PBA veterans.
“Sa totoo lang, masaya,” said Palacielo after NU’s win over UE. “Kasi, ayun nga, um, knowing na kami ni Kenshin, talagang sa puso kaming naglalaro — ‘yong mga float, mga piso-piso, mga power moves sa loob. At naalala ko rin ‘yong duo ni Quiñahan at ni Belga, napapanood ko rin ‘yun dati.
“Ito, masasabi ko talaga na parang ganun kami dati. Kasi, um, may sarili kaming strength ni Kenshin, e. Magagawa naman namin ang lahat ng chance sa court. ‘’Yan talaga ‘yung strength namin, ‘yong talagang bakbakan sa loob ng paint,” he continued.
“Sa defending, mabigat talaga kami ni Kenshin pagka defenders kami sa post. Mai-intimidate ka talaga ‘pag nasa loob kami. Proper defense lang at contain lang siya.”
While the comparison is flattering, both players remain grounded in their development.
Having come a long way since their rookie campaigns in Season 85, Padrones and Palacielo understand that their roles as NU’s veteran big men require them to push each other every day. The ultimate goal remains helping the Bulldogs capture their first UAAP championship since Season 77.
For Padrones, that growth starts in practice, where the two big men constantly challenge one another to become better.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“Siguro kulang pa, kasi mas kailangan pa namin pagbutihin para sa susunod na games,” said Padrones. “Isang karangalan ‘yung mahalintulad kina Kuya Beau at kay Kuya Quiñahan. Isang karangalan ‘yan para sa akin.
“Ginagawa namin ni PJ, bilang mga veteran na big man, ang mga pinapagawa ni Coach Jeff (Napa) kasi, ‘yun nga, tulad ng mga maraming magagaling na bigs, siguro ginagawa ko lang kung saan ako mas effective. Nagiging competitive kami sa practice at, siyempre, hindi namin pinagbibigyan ang isa’t isa para mas gumaling kami.”
NU still has plenty of work to do before it can seriously think about ending its 12-year title drought.
After opening Season 89 with a loss to De La Salle University last week, the Bulldogs bounced back against UE. But the result also highlighted areas they still need to address — particularly their ability to play consistent basketball from the opening tip until the final buzzer.
As two of the team’s veteran leaders, Padrones and Palacielo are eager to guide their younger teammates toward the same kind of success Belga and Quiñahan enjoyed together with Rain or Shine.
“Tulad ng sabi ni Coach Jeff (Napa), hindi ito ‘yung result na gusto namin pero malaking boost ‘to sa amin para sa next game kasi galing kami (sa) talo,” said Padrones.
“Kumbaga parang tulong sa amin para makabalik sa kung ano man ‘yun.”
For Palacielo, however, leadership is not about placing themselves above the rest of the team.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, pare-parehas lang naman tayong players,” said Palacielo.
“Senior niyo lang kami at makikinig kayo sa amin, pero pagdating sa court, pare-parehas lang tayong players. Hopefully, madala talaga namin. Kasi sinabi ko, kailangan talaga lahat mag-contribute sa team.”
