Incoming Emilio Aguinaldo College sophomore guard Kyle Ochavo knows that one of the toughest threats to their campaign come NCAA Season 100 would be De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
Ochavo said this as the Blazers will parade the backcourt tandem of Tony Ynot and Gab Cometa, both of whom are familiar faces for the EAC court general, as the two played either with or against him during their Cebu days.
"Excited ako na makaharap sila kasi ito ‘yung year na magkalaban kami ulit. Naging magkakampi na kami and naging magkalaban na kami, sina Ynot at Cometa," Ochavo told GMA News Online during EAC's visit at the GMA Network premises for the Masterclass last Tuesday.
(I'm excited to face them because this year we will play each other again. We were teammates and opponents before, Ynot and Cometa.)
Years ago, Ochavo suited up for the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI), where he would be playing together with Ynot and Cometa.
The trio played together for USPF for some time before Cometa transferred to a rival school in University of the Visayas (UV) while Ynot found his way to San Beda University Red Cubs.
Eventually, both Ynot and Cometa would be teammates again in San Beda's seniors team in Season 97 and 98 before they decided to transfer to Benilde last year alongside another Red Lion Justine Sanchez.
Ochavo, meanwhile, spent the next years in Cebu before finally making a crack to the Generals' lineup in Season 99 to mark his NCAA debut.
The 5-foot-5 guard stressed he's looking forward to his much-awaited reunion with his two good old friends.
"‘Yun ‘yung pinakamasaya kasi magkikita-kita ulit kami kasi sobrang close namin simula nu’ng nasa Cebu pa lang kami," he added.
(That would be fun because we will see each other again as we were close when we were starting in Cebu.)
Ochavo, however, said he's looking at a bigger picture, which is to help EAC reach the Final Four for the first time in history as they welcome plenty of recruits as well like Harvey Pagsanjan, AP Manlapaz, and Axel Doromal.
"This upcoming Season 100, talagang babawi kami na makapasok sa Final Four kasi nu’ng Season 99 sobrang kinapos kami. Ngayon babawi talaga kami," he added.
"Last season, sobrang na-excite lang kami so sobrang pressured kami kasi nasa isip na namin na makakapasok kami so this Season 100, talagang iisipin namin na every game is important."
(This upcoming Season 100, we will try to reach the Final Four because we fell short in Season 99. We will really try our best. Last season, we were too excited so were pressured to reach the Final Four. This season, we will treat every game as important.)
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
