Eight Filipinos were expected to be part of the first batch of players that will play in the 2021-22 B.League season.
But a month into the season, a surprise ninth player signed with Shinshu – Filipino-Japanese Matthew Aquino.
Aquino was the second National University product to play in Japan’s premier league after Nagoya’s Bobby Ray Parks.
The two were able to share the court for the first time on Sunday as the Diamond Dolphins and the Brave Warriors faced off in the 97th Emperor’s Cup.
And Parks felt immensely proud of Aquino.
“He is still young, growing, and learning,” Parks, who is three years older than Aquino, told Lionel Piguet of Kansai Sports.
“Hopefully, we had more time on the court to share,” he continued as Aquino only played the last minute of Shinshu’s 90-80 win over Nagoya.
“At the end of the day, he has a bright future ahead of him. I’m proud of him.”
For his part, Aquino was just glad to see Parks at peace after a turbulent start of the year.
(C) B.League
“It was good because we leave it all on the court but outside, we are brothers,” said Aquino.
“It’s also good to see him happy.”
For the two, it’s always a good sight to see a compatriot in a foreign land.
But it does not mean that they won’t go hard against each other once the whistle blows.
“It was good. We are all brothers here and representing the same country. It’s really good,” said Aquino about meeting his batchmates and kuyas in Japan.
“At the end of the day, we represent our country but we still have to be professionals. We have to go out there and compete,” continued Parks.
