Six years later, Jonathan Manalili and Joph Cleopas are reunited on the big stage.
However, they are not on the same team anymore as Manalili banners the backcourt of Colegio de San Juan de Letran while Cleopas calls the shots for University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in the NCAA juniors basketball tournament.
Incidentally, it was the Squires and the Junior Altas who disputed the Season 99 crown with the former emerging victorious in three games to cop a rare back-to-back feat.
The 19-year-old Manalili, though, credited Cleopas for his sudden rise to stardom and emergence as one of the top local guards of his generation.
"Siguro isa rin siya sa mga rason kung bakit ako napunta dito. Malaki ‘yung pasasalamat ko sa kanya," Manalili said on the heels of their 93-76 championship win on Sunday.
(Perhaps he is one of the reasons why I am also here. I thank him a lot.)
Manalili started out his young basketball career in Cebu, where he was discovered by the likes of Cleopas, who was with him at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation.
The 6-foot Manalili shared that he was undersized at the time, but Cleopas took a chance on him and even had him participate in various local leagues so as to help him develop his basketball skills.
While they may be foes on the court now, Manalili has nothing but love for his former mentor.
"Masaya ako. Mahaba na ‘yung kwento namin ni coach," Manalili added.
"Malaki rin ‘yung naitulong niya sa akin. Una kasi nu’ng pumunta ako sa school na ‘yon, puro mga 18 [years old] pataas and ako lang ata ‘yung bata, 13 or 14. Siyempre hinanapan niya ako ng paraan para makalaro sa mga liga."
(I am happy. Coach and I have a long story. He also helped me a lot. When I first went to that school, they were 18 and above and I was the only one young at 13 or 14. Of course, he found a way for me to play in leagues.)
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
