Amiel Acido, Lebron Jhames Daep show off friendly rivalry under UAAP spotlight

Amiel Acido and Lebron Jhames Daep once only dreamed of days like this—playing in the big leagues.

Now, they're living the dream, but this time as opponents.

Still, the brotherhood between the former Perpetual ALTAs teammates endures, even on opposite sides of the court.

"Sobrang saya ko na naka-match up ko siya dito kasi nu’ng times na nasa Perps kami, pinapangarap lang naman namin ‘to na makapaglaro sa mga big leagues," Acido said on Saturday.

"Sobrang proud din ako sa kanya and maganda ‘yung pinakita niya."

Acido and Daep once formed Perpetual’s towering duo in the NCAA high school ranks, powering the Junior ALTAs to their first-ever finals appearance in Season 99, where both earned Mythical Five honors and Acido claimed the MVP plum.

That season, however, ended in heartbreak as the Junior ALTAs fell to the Letran Squires, with Acido later taking his talents to UST for the collegiate level.

Daep and the rest of the Junior ALTAs holdovers then completed the unfinished business the following year, beating La Salle Green Hills in the finals to deliver the school's maiden basketball title.

That capped off a stellar year for Daep as he closed out his high school journey as both the Season and Finals MVP and eventually joined De La Salle University in the UAAP. 

Two games into his college career, Daep had already met Acido in the big stage as the Growling Tigers stunned the Green Archers with a 93-84 win on Saturday as UST ended a nearly 10-year win drought against La Salle. 

And Daep made sure their competitive fire burned just as bright despite their history.

"Natutuwa lang ako para sa kanya kasi binibigay niya ‘yung best niya and alam kong nandiyan siya palagi. Parehas kaming nagha-hard work," Daep said of Acido, who poured 13 points and six rebounds in the win.

"Friendly competition lang. Basta makita namin ‘yung mukha namin sa court, lalaban lang kami. Binigyan ko ng hard defense talaga siya kanina."

—JKC, GMA Integrated News