By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--From teaming up to spark the University of the Philippines' rise to its current position on top of the UAAP men's basketball division, Paul Desiderio and Jun Manzo are now tasked with beginning the massive facelift for struggling Cebu in the MPBL.

Both former Fighting Maroons have confirmed that they are back together as teammates, having already signed a contract with the Classic for the remainder of the season.

According to Desiderio, he and Manzo are saddened by what the returning franchise has become for the first half of the season.

After showing promise by stunning Caloocan in its MPBL return, Cebu struggled afterward, losing 12 of its next 15 games, including its five recent matches.

Worse, internal issues within the Classic camp led to them only fielding six players in a 65-131 loss to the Batangas City Rum Masters behind a record-setting 15 threes by Philip Paniamogan and seven in a 78-108 loss to the still undefeated Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, although Cebu put up a fight in the first half.

"Medyo nalulungkot kami sa nangyayari sa program ng basketball namin, so tumawag [si Jun noong Miyerkules]. Humingi siya ng tulong. Ayun, available naman ako, so grinab ko lang yung opportunity," said Desiderio, who played for Abra in the first half of the year.

It was a full-circle moment for both Desiderio and Manzo, as before, it was the former who convinced the latter to take his talents to UP, eventually leading the team to the 2018 UAAP finals.

This time, it was Manzo who helped in recruiting Desiderio to their home province team.

"Siyempre gusto naming i-angat yung basketball naming mga Cebuano," added Desiderio, who hails from Liloan, Cebu.

Desiderio and Manzo remained teammates for the 2019 UAAP campaign, but the Fighting Maroons blew a twice-to-beat advantage and fell to the UST Growling Tigers in the Final 4, and that marked the last time they teamed up in the amateur ranks.

Six years later, now as pros, the tandem that traces back to their high school days at the University of the Visayas is back.

"Ganoon naman talaga eh. Kung saan kami napupunta, lagi kaming nagkokontakan. Tulung-tulong lang kung anong kaya naming gawin," Desiderio said.

"Sobrang special especially Cebu kami nanggaling," added Manzo.

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