SOL Mercado looks at NorthPort's upcoming semifinals series against Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Governor's Cup as going to 'be fun.'
It can't get exciting enough for the veteran guard if he gets to be matched-up against former teammate Justine Brownlee.
"I hope I get the opportunity to guard Justine because me and him always go back and forth. I used to guard him in practice and we would always go at it," said Mercado of the prolific Barangay Ginebra import.
The two did go a long way, winning three championships in the four years they were together at Ginebra.
But their paths eventually separated when Mercado was dealt to NorthPort in the middle of the season as part of the Stanley Pringle trade.
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Now that they're on the opposite end, the 35-year-old Mercado is looking forward of competing against his 'brother.'
"Obviously aside from one of my best friends, I'm looking of kind of talking mess to him and go at him a little bit," said Mercado. "So it's going to be fun."
The eighth-seeded Batang Pier arranged the best-of-five showdown against the no. 4 Kings following their grueling triple overtime win over top seed NLEX Road Warriors, 126-123, in a classic quarterfinal game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
While the team's morale is definitely on a high, Mercado said NorthPort shouldn't put its guards down especially against a ballclub like Ginebra.
"Obviously, Ginebra is a different beast," the Fil-Am guard stressed.
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"We can't just go out there and try to do it one-on-one," Mercado added. "We're gonna have to play team basketball because that's what they're gonna be." (RG)
