By Jonas Terrado Magnolia coach Chito Victolero was already a few blocks away from his home in Cubao when he decided to make a quick stop to catch up with his old friend, former cager Junel Mendiola. “Nagkita kami bago mag-lockdown, nakatambay siya sa bahay nila malapit sa kalsada. Ayun, kwentuhan, kamustahan at saka konting biruan,” recalled Victolero, who lives in 9th Avenue while Mendiola resides in nearby 10th Avenue. Chito Victolero and Junel Mendiola developed a friendship during their national team stint in the 2001 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. (Photo courtesy of Chito Victolero) The two later agreed that they should meet anew in a drinking session when the time permits before Victolero excused himself. It turned out to be the last time Victolero saw Mendiola, who passed away three days after turning 45 years old on June 13 due to a lung illness. His passing shocked cage comrades like Victolero, who developed a close friendship with Mendiola when they were members of the national team that won the gold in the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games. Mendiola was part of a selection composed of some of the top players from the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association and coached by current San Miguel Beer assistant Boycie Zamar. MBA MVPs Rommel Adducul and Eddie Laure of the Batangas Blades, Negros Slashers star John Ferriols and former Ginebra and Iloilo Megavolts mainstay Vince Hizon led the roster dubbed as the "MBA Dream Team." Victolero and San Juan Knights teammates Chris Calaguio and Omanzie Rodriguez, Batangas Blades’ Peter Martin, Socsargen Marlins rookie Egay Echavez, Davao Eagles’ Jomar Tierra, Cebu Gems’ Ruben dela Rosa and Mendiola, then playing for the Laguna Lakers, round out the team. Zamar picked Mendiola on the 12-man lineup not only for his capability to play both the point guard and shooting guard positions but also for his cerebral approach to the game. “Malaking gwardiya siya na pwede maglaro ng uno at dos at kontra-tiyempo si Junel, mabagal na madiskarte,” said Zamar. “Deceptive din siya. Hindi mo alam kung dadrive siya o kaya titira kasi parang alanganin yung tira niya diba? Kunwari fafake ng (galaw), pero titira pala. Isa siya sa magandang reliever ni Chito Victolero kasi No. 1 mo (na point guard) si Chito Victolero.” Former Purefoods guard Junel Mendiola, who passed away at 45 due to a lingering illness, formed a friendship with current Magnolia Hotshots coach Chito Victolero during their 'MBA Dream Team' days. (PBA Images) Victolero, already one of the MBA’s best with his playmaking and defensive skills, was already familiar with Mendiola, who played for the Pangasinan Presidents (later renamed Waves), Pampanga Dragons and Lakers during his career in the regional circuit. “He’s a very smart player,” he said. “Kung titignan mo mabagal siya but yung kanyang pagkatalino sa laro, yun yung nagagamit niya. Talagang gwardiya yung thinking niya. Very unselfish player, team player plus the fact na yung height advantage niya as a guard. Meron siyang outside shot, meron siyang drive at magaling pumasa. He’s a lefty na very smart player.” But Victolero got to know Mendiola more on a personal level, beginning with the team’s campaign in the 2001 SEABA Championship at Rizal Memorial Coliseum that saw the Filipino quintet sweep all five matches by an average margin of 47 points to win the title. The Basketball Association of the Philippines rewarded the team with a trip to Hong Kong where the two remain roommates. The arrangement continued in Kuala Lumpur where the national cagers almost miss out of the Games when FIBA suspended the country due to warring factions within the federation. FIBA lifted the ban days before the SEA Games after Tiny Literal was elected president, paving the way for the team to resume its quest for the gold. “Sa SEABA pa lang halos nagkaroon na kami ng bonding ni Junel e,” said Victolero. “Halos kaming dalawa yung magkasama tapos kami ang mag-roommate. Minsan may mga kombinasyon si Coach Boycie na kami yung magkasama sa loob ng court na parang two-guard combination. “Bukod dun sa mga teammates ko sa San Juan (Calaguio and Rodriguez), mas naging close ako kay Junel,” he added. Junel Mendiola, kneeling second from left, was part of the Philippine team that won the gold in the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games. (Photo courtesy of Boycie Zamar) The Philippines dominated the pack in the Malaysian capital, completing a five-game sweep by an average margin of 34.6 points to wrest the gold. Being part of the SEA Games team was perhaps the high point of Mendiola’s career. He fulfilled his PBA dream in 2002 but averaged 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 19 games during his lone season with the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs team that won that year’s Governors’ Cup title. He later became a coach of Taguig in the short-lived Tournament of the Philippines in 2010 and for M-Builders and Trinity University of Asia in the PBA D-League. Before his MBA stint, Mendiola suited up for Philippine School of Business Administration and for Oriental Battery and Welcoat in the PBL.