By: Miguel Caramoan
It was a reunion of sorts for former FEU Tamaraws standouts Patrick Sleat and Bryan Sajonia — only this time, they stood on opposing sides.
Both now carving their own paths in the NCAA — Sleat representing Perpetual and Sajonia suiting up for San Beda — their first official matchup highlighted how far they’ve come since their days in Morayta.
But there was no room for nostalgia once the game began. For the two guards who once shared the same colors from high school through Seasons 84 and 85, it was all business.
For Sleat, the game carried extra meaning, as he faced not just Sajonia but also former Baby Tams teammates Penny Estacio and Joe Celzo. He knew exactly how capable his old running mates were, and that familiarity only made the matchup more challenging.
“Full circle moment. Kasi dati high school pa lang kami, teammates na kami. And ngayon, nagkakalaban na kami, pati si Penny [Estacio] din. Knowing their capabilities, they’re all good players, kaya talagang pinaghandaan namin sila,” Sleat said about his former FEU teammates.
The competitive fire that once fueled their Tamaraw practices was on full display during the Altas’ 88-85 triple-overtime triumph over the Red Lions. Sleat, 24, led Perpetual in scoring with 23 points, along with six rebounds and four assists.
Sajonia, however, is still recovering from an injury and finished scoreless. That did not stop San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta from giving him the assignment of guarding his former teammate.
“Oo, sa akin talaga binigay ni Coach Yuri na depensahan ko si Sleat. Kaso ayun lang wala pa ako sa rhythm and kakabalik ko lang — medyo hindi pa 100-percent,” Sajonia said.
Still, the competitive edge between the two remained. Sleat described Sajonia as one of the fiercest players he’s ever gone up against, noting that neither of them takes a game lightly — even against friends.
“Kasi si Bryan [Sajonia], sobrang competitive noon and ako rin competitive. Kaya pag magkalaban kami, magkalaban talaga. Pero off the court, tropa kami,” Sleat said.
Before tip-off, there were no mind games or banter, just mutual respect from one competitor to another.
“Wala. Good luck lang,” Sleat added.
For Sajonia, it was the same mindset. Having already faced Sleat during the preseason, he treated the matchup as routine — just another test against a player who knows him just as well.
“Okay lang, sanay naman na ako kalaban si Sleat nung preseason. And ayun, nagkasama nga kami, pero magkalaban na,” Sajonia said.
Though their conversations have grown less frequent since parting ways, Sajonia expressed nothing but happiness seeing Sleat thrive in a new environment.
“Hindi na kami masyado nakakapag-usap ni Sleat, pero masaya ako sa performance niya and trabahuhin lang dapat namin trabahuhin,” he added.
