MAMUYAC AND TIO | RUNNING IT BACK!

LA Tenorio and Magnum Membrere.

When you talk about elite Ateneo guards from the 2000s, especially during their 2002 UAAP championship run, it's hard to forget about these two.

Tenorio is the starting point guard who leads Ateneo's charge, while Membrere is the reliable backup who can either maintain their momentum or even fuel it down the stretch. Tenorio and Membrere can either substitute for each other or play side by side, similar to the partnership of Hector Calma and Franz Pumaren during their run with the San Miguel Beermen. Sure, Calma and Pumaren have different play styles, but they can control the game, which led San Miguel to numerous championships, capped by their grand slam run in 1989.

Fast forward to 2026, and we have Gian Mamuyac and Tyler Tio.

Mamuyac has reunited with his Ateneo backcourt buddy after being dealt by Rain or Shine to the Phoenix Fuel Masters for their 2029/Season 53 first-round pick.

There was speculation that Mamuyac wanted to test the international waters, but ultimately, Mamu just wants a slight salary bump. At first glance, this seems reasonable, as Mamuyac has been the team's top clutch messiah in their return to title-hunting status.

However, there is a reason why Rain or Shine has never won a title since 2016.

We regard Rain or Shine as this great, infallible independent team. But let's not kid ourselves. One of Rain or Shine's best upsides is that they are able to win games within a budget. If one of their players wants more money, they'll dump him to a team that can afford to pay him. If a player is unhappy with his playing time, they'll trade him for what they believe is the best return.

That said, it's also their problem.

Can you imagine this Rain or Shine squad if they still had their versions of Javee Mocon and Rey Nambatac?

Through the years, Rain or Shine has made trades that, if done by the so-called farm teams, would have been bashed by fans. But if you think about it, these moves made sense. Staying on a budget and creating a family atmosphere are the only ways for the Elasto Painters to compete with the league's biggest spenders. After all, how can a company best known for house paints compete with a company that owns the South Expressway and another company that owns the North Expressway?

This gives an aura in which the upstarts of Rain or Shine are trying their best to topple the teams with established players. But when they have their own established players, they trade them away to create another set of up-and-comers.

And that cycle has been repeating for more than a decade now.

Except for the trade that sent Paul Lee to Star for James Yap, Rain or Shine's main trading partners are teams in the MVP Group and the teams within their sphere of influence. The Elasto Painters have had dealings with TNT, Meralco, and NLEX, and have also made trades with Phoenix and Blackwater that may or may not eventually benefit the MVP teams.

Hell, even Yeng Guiao had his stint with the NLEX Road Warriors, and I believe the reason he wasn't successful as coach of the franchise is that his no-superstar philosophy doesn't work with teams loaded with money.

I mean, remember when Kiefer Ravena played for NLEX and, instead of Asi Taulava, the team's most productive center was Raul Soyud?

Rain or Shine either served as main trading partners or conduits. For as long as they have multiple first-round and second-round picks, they are happy.

NOTABLE RAIN OR SHINE TRADES

THROUGH THE YEARS

YEAR	NOTABLE PLAYER	TEAM	KEY ROS ACQUISITION
2010-11	SOLOMON MERCADO	MERALCO BOLTS	BEAU BELGA / RONJAY BUENAFE
2014-15	KEVIN ALAS	NLEX ROAD WARRIORS	2015 | 1ST (MAVERICK AHANMISI)
2016-17	JEFF CHAN	PHOENIX FUEL MASTERS	2020 | 2ND (ANTON ASISTIO)
2017-18	JERICHO CRUZ	TNT KATROPA	2018 | 1ST (JAVEE MOCON)
2017-18	DON TROLLANO	TNT KATROPA	NORBERT TORRES
2020	RAYMOND ALMAZAN	MERALCO BOLTS	2019 | 1ST (CLINT DOLIGUEZ) S47 | 1ST (SHAUN ILDEFONSO)
2022-23	JAVEE MOCON	PHOENIX FUEL MASTERS	S48 | 1ST (KEITH DATU)
2023-24	NORBERT TORRES	MERALCO BOLTS	MAC BELO
2023-24	HENRY GALINATO	TNT TROPANG GIGA	S50 | 1ST (JUN ROQUE)
2023-24	REY NAMBATAC	BLACKWATER BOSSING	S49 | 1ST (CAELAN TIONGSON)
2025-26	GIAN MAMUYAC	PHOENIX FUEL MASTERS	S53 | 1ST (TO BE DETERMINED)

That said, unlike the other farm teams, Rain or Shine is a certified championship contender. They have an outstanding coach in Yeng Guiao, a philosophy that maximizes the skills of the players, and they can replenish the players they lose through the draft.

This is why it's logical for Rain or Shine to choose a 2029 first-round pick instead of a 2027 or even a 2028 first-rounder. This season, they have four rookies: Christian Manaytay, Jun Roque, Deo Cuajao, and Joshua David. Three of the four players they selected in the 2024 PBA Draft are still on the roster. And except for Beau Belga and Stanley Pringle, every player on their team first played in the PBA in the 2020s. The team is so loaded with options that Santi Santillan, a player whose stock should have skyrocketed, is barely getting 20 minutes a game.

And this is what's awesome about the Mamuyac-to-Phoenix deal. For Mamu, it's a chance to negotiate a three-year deal with a team that has the funds to offer him a salary increase. And unlike Rain or Shine, Charles Tiu's rotation isn't as "mysterious" or "random." Mamuyac will have his minutes, and the team also has a collection of youth and experience.

However, this brings me back to why I referenced Ateneo at the start of the blog. Yes, Mamuyac is a solid addition to the Phoenix Fuel Masters. But here's the thing. This is Tyler Tio's team. I know they will have a timeshare in the PG duties, and there is a chance they will spend time inside the court at the same time, with a five consisting of Jason Perkins, Kai Ballungay, and Ricci Rivero. But I really believe that Tyler Tio will find ways to lead the charge. Yes, Tio's game blossomed when Jamike Jarin ran Phoenix, and he missed a couple of games this season due to injury, but he still needs to command his presence because that's just right.

And this is where it also gets tricky for Mamuyac, who also needs to exert effort if he wants to boost his chance to get the contract he deserves, or just in case, there are still international teams looking to sign him.

Nonetheless, Phoenix gets a boost with Tio and Mamuyac trying to outdo each other. The thing about these two is that while they will compete with each other, they also know how to play to each other's strengths. Mamuyac can shoot from the outside, but he can also slash to the basket and is an above-average defender. Meanwhile, Tio is the better outside shooter, in the mold of another Atenean, Chris Tiu. He has also developed a better slashing game, and just like Mamuyac, his playmaking skills have greatly improved.

Most importantly, both players are winners. Again, if this becomes a problem, then it's a good problem for Phoenix to have, especially now that they don't need the 2027 PBA Draft to look for an orchestrator.

As mentioned, this could become a Tenorio-Membrere or a Calma-Pumaren situation.

Either way, I expect great things to happen to Phoenix with these two around.