MANILA, Philippines -- In a showdown between two former Lyceum of the Philippines University teammates, it was the less-heralded MJ Ayaay who got the last laugh against budding star CJ Perez on Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Ayaay and the Alaska Aces demolished Perez's Columbian Dyip, 94-72, to claim their first win of the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup, spoiling a solid 15-point outing from Perez.

Ayaay, selected as the 9th overall pick in the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft, contributed 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. The former Pirates found themselves guarding each other from time to time, but both made light of their match-up afterwards.

"Okay lang," said Ayaay, who was a crucial member of the Lyceum team that made it to back-to-back NCAA finals in 2017 and 2018. "Nag-usap na kami two days before the game."

"Sabi ko, 'Yari ka sa akin, parang practice lang'," Ayaay added in jest.

• READ: Alaska bounces back by thrashing Columbian

Ayaay got the better of Perez in at least one exchange, when he backed down his former teammate inside the post, then spun for a lay-up that gave Alaska a 54-41 lead with 6:17 to play in the third quarter.

He was not too concerned about matching up or defending Perez, however.

"Hindi ko naman iniisip 'yun," Ayaay insisted. "Gusto ko lang manalo at matulungan 'yung Alaska."

For his part, Perez said he is "so happy" for Ayaay, whom he considers as a brother after all that they had gone through together.

"Makikita mo 'yung kapatid mo na naglalaro kasama mo, sobrang saya ko na andito siya, na natupad 'yung pangarap namin," said Perez, the No. 1 overall pick in the rookie draft.

"Siyempre, alam ko si Ayaay, sobrang hard-working. Kung gusto niya makamit 'yung pangarap niya, paghihirapan niya," he added. "Sobrang happy ako na narating niya 'yun."

Perez has more things to worry about, however, than getting one-upped by his former teammate on Wednesday night. The loss to Alaska was already Columbian's third straight, putting their record at 2-4 in the All-Filipino Cup.

"Nakaka-frustrate talaga," said Perez, who went 5-of-13 from the field and missed half of the eight free throws that he attempted. "Pero kailangan naming harapin. Game ng basketball, dumarating talaga, manalo, matalo."

"Ang kailangan lang siguro namin, mag-regroup, para focused kami sa mga kailangan namin gawin."

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