MANILA, Philippines – The last time that CJ Perez and JP Calvo shared a court, it was in the Final 4 of the NCAA Season 94 men's basketball tournament.

Perez and the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates were crushing Calvo and the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights. To make matters worse, Calvo had to leave the game early in the third quarter after sustaining an injury. Without their backcourt general, the Knights lost, 109-95.

All that is now in the past, however, as Perez and Calvo prepare to team for Columbian Dyip in the PBA. The franchise made Perez their cornerstone, taking him with the first pick of the 2018 Rookie Draft. Calvo, meanwhile, was their surprise pick at No. 11.

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"Ang expect ko nga, second round ako eh," admitted Calvo, who turned heads with his MVP performance in the Draft Combine last week. "Hindi ko ine-expect na kukunin ako ng Columbian."

Indeed, for a while Calvo was confused about his selection, as his name was called out wrong: Columbian initially announced that they had chosen "CJ Calvo."

"'Di ko alam kung ano feeling ko kanina na tinawag ako eh, at saka 'yung feeling na mali pa 'yung pagkabigkas ng pangalan ko, parang 'di ako tatayo eh," said the guard.

But stand up he did, and Calvo went up at the stage in Robinson's Place Manila to join his new team – including his former collegiate rival, Perez.

"Malaking bagay ito para sa akin," said Calvo.

Now, the 5-foot-7 guard – one of the shortest players in the draft – is looking forward to teaming up with Perez, to hopefully change the culture in Columbian Dyip.

"Siyempre excited ako kasi 'yun nga, magkakalaban kami sa NC tapos pagdating sa PBA, magkakakampi na kami. Siguro 'yun, 'yun lang ang isa sa pinakagusto ko, na makakasama ko si CJ," said Calvo.

"Siguro 'yung gawin lang namin ni CJ na makatulong sa team. Alam ko din naman ang laro ni CJ, so siguro kailangan lang namin mag-complement dalawa para at least sa team makakatulong kami," he also said.

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