Once, Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Steve Nash Enriquez, Janjan Felicilda, Terrence Fortea, and Reyland Torres shared the same jersey, the same system, and the same dream — the dynasty of National University-Nazareth School in the UAAP boys’ basketball ranks.
But collegiate basketball has a way of reshaping bonds.
Alarcon, Abadiano, and Fortea followed high school mentor Goldwin Monteverde to the University of the Philippines. Meanwhile, Torres, Felicilda, and Enriquez stayed with National University under Jeff Napa.
Even that arrangement didn’t last.
Torres and Felicilda eventually reunited with Monteverde at UP, forming the ‘Maroon 5,’ while Enriquez stayed behind, carrying the legacy of that Bullpups batch with pride long after his former teammates had moved on.
Now, as the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament reaches its climax, the consequences of that split are clear.
Defending champion UP booked its fifth straight Finals appearance with a thrilling one-point escape over University of Santo Tomas.
NU, meanwhile, saw its twice-to-beat advantage vanish and must fight in a do-or-die duel against De La Salle University this Saturday, December 6, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
And yet, the story has taken on a poetic twist.
The Maroon 5 — Alarcon, Fortea, Abadiano, Felicilda, and Torres — have become the loudest supporters of Enriquez and the Bulldogs.
Not simply out of friendship, but because they want to see the tale they once imagined reach its ultimate chapter: a reunion on the biggest stage of Philippine collegiate basketball — not as teammates, but as rivals, competing for the Season 88 crown.
“Knowing Steve Nash naman, yung pagiging competitor niya, nandiyan talaga ‘yan ‘eh as a winner. Nakita ko kung paano niya ipaglaban yung sarili niya at yung team. Hopefully, sana, this last playing year niya, makuha niya yung pinaka-goal nila na makapag-Finals,” Fortea told Tiebreaker Times Wednesday evening at the Big Dome.
“Sana maglaban kami, pero as a friend and as a former teammate, sana makuha namin yung competition na gusto namin sa pinaka-important na games namin sa college.”
Alarcon, who joined the Bullpups alongside Enriquez after leaving his mark at the NBTC Elite 60 Camp in 2018, shared a similar sentiment, praising Enriquez’s competitive drive:
“Syempre, nagcha-chat naman kami ni Nash kapag may time pero ngayon kasi hindi kami masyado nagco-communicate kasi yun nga, nasa top two teams kami. Syempre, as a best friend, kailangan din namin yung competition ‘eh. Pero healthy competition naman,” he said.
“Pero yun nga, si Nash, alam niyo naman kung paano i-handle yung mga ganyang sitwasyon eh. Lumaki din siya kay Coach Gold [Monteverde], alam niya kung paano harapin yung mga bagay-bagay.”
With NU’s season hanging in the balance, Abadiano is confident that Enriquez will give everything to lead the Bulldogs to their first UAAP men’s basketball Finals appearance since 2014.
“Siguro si Steve Nash, dahil nakasama namin siya ng matagal, sobrang happy ako na na-experience niya yung ganitong bagay at yung ganitong sitwasyon,” Abadiano remarked.
“Bilang teammate lang din niya dati, gusto ko makuha niya yung panalo next game and alam ko naman na ibibigay ni Steve Nash — at yung team niya — yung pinaka-best nila para makuha yung panalo.”
Torres and Felicilda, who spent their rookie years with Enriquez at NU before reuniting with Monteverde at UP, also stand firmly behind not just Enriquez but also their former NU teammates.
“Sobrang supporta din po talaga, kasi syempre sila Jake [Figueroa], Jolo [Manansala], may pinagsamahan din kami ng mga ‘yan. Napag-usapan din namin nung rookie kami na gusto namin mag-Finals, lalo na si Nash. Parang kapatid na turingan namin sa isa’t isa,” Torres said.
“Sana makuha nila yung Game 2 para matupad yung pinagusapan namin dati. Hindi nga lang lang magkakasama, pero masaya ako non pag nangyari ‘yan,” he went on.
Meanwhile, Felicilda added, “Para sa akin, syempre, masaya ako kay Steve Nash. Matagal ko na siyang kasama at matagal ko na rin siya naging kaibigan. Kumbaga, minsan nag-uusap pa rin kami, nagcha-chat, kinakamusta pa rin niya ako nung lalo na nung na-injure ako.
“Syempre, supportive pa rin naman ako sa kanila sa kung sino yung mga naging kasama ko doon. Kumbaga, parang [sinasabi] ko lang sa kanya na pagbutihan niya. Last playing year na namin ‘eh, ang bilis ng panahon, so good luck na lang sa kanya at sa team niya.”
Now, the Maroon 5 wait.
The only question left: can NU’s final torchbearer carve the path for a reunion and provide the fitting finale to the ‘Bullpups era’ of the UAAP?
