PBA: From La Salle to NLEX, Schonny Winston and Evan Nelle reunite

MANILA, Philippines— What started as a joke between former La Salle teammates Schonny Winston and Evan Nelle has finally become a reality in the PBA.

Winston and Nelle, who played alongside each other during their UAAP days, suited up together for the first time as professionals when Nelle made his NLEX debut against TNT on Tuesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

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“It’s funny because we always joke about it. He was my point guard when I was in La Salle,” he told the Inquirer after their 88-83 win over the Tropang 5G. “It was me and him [back then], we played a lot of minutes together in La Salle.”

“He got his rhythm and chemistry with us since he joined the team. It’s good. We already have some chemistry going and we’ll build from here.”

Nelle was traded from Phoenix to NLEX before finally seeing action for the Road Warriors, although he has played sparingly as he works his way back from a calf strain.

The former Green Archer played just nine minutes with three assists and two rebounds against TNT before seeing over six minutes of action and scoring three points in Friday’s loss to Terrafirma, which ended NLEX’s unbeaten start.

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Having his former collegiate teammate beside him also seemed to bring out more from Winston.

He finished with nine points, five assists, two rebounds and two steals in NLEX’s win over TNT before following it up with 16 points against Terrafirma.

The former La Salle teammates are now getting their chance to build on the chemistry they developed years ago, this time with NLEX.