RP Patriots’ Val Acuña looks to pass against an unidentified KL Dragons defender during their recent ABL semifinal match. (Photo by TONY PIONILLA)

KUALA LUMPUR – A few months after playing together on drive for the UAAP championship, four ex-players from University of the East are playing on opposite ends, this time playing for a spot in the ASEAN Basketball League.

The Philippine Patriots have the high-flying Elmer Espiritu and outside gunner Val Acuna while the KL Dragons are bannered by steady point guard Rudy Lingganay and sniper Fhadzmir “Toto” Bandaying.

As of presstime, both players and their respective teams are dueling it out at the MABA Stadium here with the Patriots looking to sweep the best-of-three series to enter the finals. The Dragons, on the other hand, are aiming to force a rubber match set for Sunday.

Four months earlier, these players spearheaded alongside Paul Lee and Pari Llagas to lead the Warriors to an improbable run at the finals where they pushed eventual champion Ateneo to the limit despite being handled by a new mentor in Lawrence Chongson.

“It’s kind of odd that after we went through the finals, we are now facing each other in the ABL,” said Espiritu, who was named as the UAAP Mythical Five. “We’re all happy that we are playing in this league despite being on different teams.”

Espiritu is averaging just 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds but has provided some defensive help alongside former UAAP rival Nonoy Baclao. Acuna, meanwhile, has averaged 10 points in the last three games raising his scoring average to 4.3 points per game.

The biggest revelation of the four is Lingganay, who has become a crowd darling here. He once scored 27 points and is norming 11 points a contest.

“In UE, I was just doing my role as a point guard but now coach (Go Cheng Huat) has given me the confidence to do my thing,” Lingganay said.

Bandaying has logged 6.5 points and has contributed several big shots for the Dragons, especially during their three-game winning run that propelled them to the semis. (Tempo Sports)