IT'S the best the Phoenix Fuel Masters could offer to condole with a grieving teammate.
The team ended a four-game winning streak in the PBA Philippine Cup by hacking out a 118-107 win over Northport which it dedicated to rookie JC Cullar, whose father passed away Tuesday in Italy.
And the true pro that he is, the former St. Benilde stalwart decided to play in the Fuel Masters' third win in 10 outings at the Philsports Arena, logging in seven minutes and scoring four points and dishing four assists.
After the game, he went straight to the airport and catch a flight to Italy.
"I salute him for that. If I was in his position, I wouldn't even be able to move siguro. You've got to give a lot of heart to JC," said Phoenix coach Mike Jarin following the win.
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It was Cullar who insisted he play for the Fuel Masters first before departing for Italy.
"The first thing that I told him is be with your family. Kasi they are from Italy, so I said go and get the fastest flight to be with your family," Jarin related.
"And he said, 'I have an obligation to my family also here, to my Phoenix family.'"
Cullar added his late father would actually be proud of him for choosing to do his job first.
"He said, 'My dad would love to see me play.' And so he got the earliest flight after our game," said Jarin.(RG)
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