Early games in the elimination round of any tournament usually don’t carry much meaning other than wins or losses. But later tonight, the face-off between the Phoenix Fuel Masters and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will likely mean more than just your average early-season matchup.
That’s because for the first time in four years, young veteran Gian Mamuyac won’t be sharing the court with his Rain or Shine brethren. Instead, he will be competing against them.
Mamuyac, who was drafted fifth overall by the Elasto Painters in the 2022 PBA Draft, will be facing off against the team he battled with for the entirety of his career—until Rain or Shine traded him to Phoenix for a first-round pick in the 2029 PBA Draft.
Mamuyac’s Expectations
It goes without saying that Mamuyac has intimate knowledge of his former team, which is probably why he’s expecting his ex-teammates to take the action to him.
“I expect them to go hard,” Mamu told reporters after Phoenix survived Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 81-78, on Sunday. “Ganoon naman talaga sa Rain or Shine na mga bata ni Coach Yeng [Guiao]. I expect nothing less.”
Mamuyac is right. But he should also expect his former team to be even more motivated and hungry to win—not because they have beef with the 6-foot-2 guard but because they’re in need of a win after an 0-2 start to this PBA Governors’ Cup.
Competitors on the Court, Close Friends Off It
If it’s any consolation for the former Ateneo Blue Eagle, it’s that after tonight’s game, he and his former teammates at Rain or Shine can go back to being the close friends they are—until the next Phoenix–Rain or Shine game, of course.
“Siyempre competitors kami, pagdating sa court once the ball goes up wala munang kaibi-kaibigan, competitors muna kami,” added Mamuyac, who scored 6 points in his Phoenix debut on Sunday. “Off the court naman nagpaalam naman ako sa kanila personally and napagusapan naman namin. Close naman talaga kami. Off the court wala namang problema doon pero habang laro galit-galit muna.”
Indeed, friendships will be put aside tonight. And that should add a layer of intrigue to the early-season showdown between Phoenix and Rain or Shine.
