When Kurt Laput committed to transferring to the University of Santo Tomas, he didn’t expect to find a familiar face waiting for him in his new home.
That familiar face turned out to be Kristian Porter — his former teammate at Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu — who had also made the move to UST just a few months earlier.
“Sobrang unexpected,” said Laput, who is two years older than Porter.
More than a decade ago, a young Laput left Ormoc, Leyte to pursue his basketball dreams in Cebu.
At SHS-Ateneo de Cebu, he formed strong bonds and shared the court with Porter, Nic Cabanero, Jared Bahay, Raffy Celis, and Michael Asoro.
Together, they collected titles in the Passerelle division and were poised to become the next golden generation for the Magis Eagles in CESAFI.
(C) Kristian Porter
But just as they were about to take center stage in the juniors division, the CESAFI tournament was cancelled for two straight years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Porter eventually moved to Manila in 2022 to join Ateneo de Manila University, while Laput relocated to Batangas to play college ball for Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas.
By a twist of fate, their paths would cross once again — not in Ateneo or Lyceum, but at UST.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“I mean, for sure it’s exciting. Matagal na kaming magkakilala ni Kurt, and we’ve been teammates for a while din,” said Porter, a two-time UAAP Boys’ Basketball Mythical Team member.
“But it’s been a long time since we last played together on the same court, so I’m excited to see the kind of player he’s become over the time we spent in our own separate schools. Super excited to be reunited with him and hopefully produce for Coach Pido and UST.”
Now reunited, Laput and Porter are looking to settle some unfinished business as they prepare to suit up for the Growling Tigers in UAAP Seasons 89 and 90.
Before that, however, they have a crucial task ahead: rebuilding the chemistry they once had during their high school days.
“Syempre, nakakatuwa lang kasi sobrang unexpected talaga na magiging teammates ulit kami ni Budoy,” Laput shared.
“Sobrang excited din ako, at the same time, na makalaro at makakampi siya ulit dito sa UST this coming residency namin.”
