Phoenix’s 3-0 start in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup isn’t just being powered by strong performances on the floor. It’s also being driven by a reunion that has been more than a decade in the making.
Long before they became PBA players, Ricci Rivero, Tyler Tio, and Gian Mamuyac were simply teenagers sharing the same court during a Jr. NBA camp. Their basketball journeys eventually took them to different schools, different teams, and different careers, making a reunion seem increasingly unlikely.
Now, fate has finally brought all three together under the Phoenix Fuel Masters banner.
For Rivero, seeing a familiar face like Mamuyac arrive in Phoenix has made the team’s early success even more meaningful.
“Me, Tyler and Gian, sabay-sabay kami ng Jr. NBA before. Ngayon ko lang sila nakasama since nag-Ateneo sila kaya I’m so excited,” Rivero said after collecting 16 points and Player of the Game honors in Phoenix’s 81-78 victory over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
While Tio and Mamuyac went on to build their chemistry at Ateneo, Rivero carved out his own collegiate path with La Salle before transferring to the University of the Philippines.
Their professional careers also unfolded separately.
Tio and Mamuyac entered the PBA in the same rookie class in 2022, although the latter began his career with Rain or Shine. Rivero joined the league the following year as a Phoenix draft pick, leaving the trio still waiting for the chance to become teammates once again.
That opportunity finally arrived when the Fuel Masters acquired Mamuyac in a blockbuster trade, completing a reunion years in the making.
Rivero immediately reached out after learning about the deal, hoping they could finally chase bigger goals together.
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THEN AND NOW
Thirteen years after sharing the court in a Junior NBA event, Tyler Tio, Gian Mamuyac, and Ricci Rivero come full circle as teammates once again with the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, setting their sights on a strong PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup campaign. pic.twitter.com/Sni4WpCWei
— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) July 20, 2026
“Masaya ako. Nung nalaman ko na trade si Mamu, nag-message ako agad sa kanya,” he said. “Sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘let’s try our best.’ Kung kaya umabot ng Finals, aim for the best.”
So far, Phoenix has looked every bit like a team benefiting from that renewed chemistry.
The Fuel Masters have opened the conference with three consecutive victories, including a statement win over Barangay Ginebra in Mamuyac’s debut wearing a Phoenix uniform.
But despite the perfect record, Rivero knows the bigger challenge still lies ahead.
Their next matchup comes against Rain or Shine, giving Mamuyac an immediate chance to face the franchise where he spent the first four years of his PBA career.
Rivero, meanwhile, is focused on making sure Phoenix’s fast start turns into something much more significant than just an unbeaten stretch.
“Gusto lang namin makabawi since we ended the last conference very bad against Ginebra,” he said.
“Sobrang saya lang sa feeling and minsan lang kami nakapag-ganito and never pa talaga yung 3-0. So why not make the most out of it and try to go 4-0 kung kaya?” Rivero continued.
For three players whose friendship began long before the professional ranks, Phoenix’s early surge feels like more than just a winning streak. It is the first chapter of a reunion they had waited years to experience—and one they hope will end with the deepest playoff run of their careers.
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