By: Bjorn Del Deade
Despite suffering an overtime loss to the College of Saint Benilde Blazers, San Beda Red Lions’ Yukien Andrada and James Payosing said they were happy to reunite with ex-teammates Tony Ynot,Justine Sanchez, and Gab Cometa even if they were playing on opposite ends of the court.
Andrada, who paced San Beda with 13 points and five rebounds, said he was glad that the former Red Lions transferred to a strong basketball program like Benilde.
“For me, di ko rin naman naiisip ‘yon. I just came here to play. They’re a really good team. They went to a really good team. I’m happy for them din naman,” Andrada said about his friends, who were his teammates all the way back in San Beda-Taytay.
“They got their opportunities in CSB. So playing against them, syempre naninibago rin ako. Former teammates ko sila. Pero I really didn’t think about that too much.”
Payosing revealed that he would still get in touch with the three Red Lions-turned-Blazers off the court, even messaging Ynot before their match-up.
“Bago kami naglaro, nag-chat pa kami kagabi, na good luck sa’min bukas,” Payosing said after his 10-point, nine-rebound outing.
“Sinabi naman na i-enjoy namin ‘yung game. And, good thing is hindi kami nagbabantayan ni Ynot kanina kasi he played shooting guard and I played three.”
Come the second round, Andrada expressed eagerness to get back at his good pal Sanchez and the rest of the Blazers.
“Gusto na talaga naming bumawi against CSB. They’re really a good team,” he said. “They got us in the first round. But for sure we’re gonna come back in the second round and hopefully, we can win the second-round game.”
When that day comes, Payosing said he will make sure that the Red Lions will do it the “right way.”
“We’re gonna do it in the right way. Yung coaches na yung bahala dyan. Makikita namin kung anong i-aadjust namin. And ayusin din namin yung sarili namin, yung attitude namin, nung team na hindi kami bibigay sa dulo,” he said.
