Direct Messages

Lillian Duenas

9:43 AM

Lillian Duenas

Yvanna, what have you been eating this season?

Yvanna Adriano

...coffee, boss?

Lillian Duenas

Your Yape article is doing insane numbers. Way past the Piencenaves one. You found an angle in a non-story and now the engagement rate is holding, shares are still climbing, and the basketball forums haven't stopped talking about it.

I did NOT expect this.

Yvanna Adriano

it IS the coffee

hahahahahah

Lillian Duenas

Your byline is really valuable, Yvanna.

Great job.

Yvanna Adriano

any thoughts beyond the technical po? 🙏

just wanna know how i can improve.

Lillian Duenas

Improve the numbers? 🤩 Love how you think!

Yvanna Adriano

i mean...the writing. the craft din po.

Lillian Duenas

Well, the opening was a risk and it paid off—we both already know you have a good structural instinct. The legacy angle gave it the weight it needed without being heavy-handed. The ending was confident.

Yvanna Adriano

you don't think i was too soft on him though? like before you said my vargas coverage was too critical, now some comments are saying i pulled punches compared to how i usually write.

Lillian Duenas

The numbers don't suggest soft, Yvanna.

Yvanna Adriano

as my mentor, regardless of the numbers, i'm asking if the writing was honest or if i went easy because the angle didn't demand teeth

Lillian Duenas

It had teeth. Trust me. Sharp ones.

I think you matched the tone to the subject. Russ required a different approach—that's not softness, that's range.

Yvanna Adriano

okay. thank you po.

Lillian Duenas

Where are we on your revised Vargas feature?

Yvanna Adriano

i'll submit po asap.

but also, boss, i just wanted to remind you about the monica kehyeng spotify interview. captain of the lady spikers, and my friend's on the team, she was able to ask if she's interested and she is!

Lillian Duenas

Volleyball is months away. We can't have you splitting your focus. The Vargas article is what everyone is waiting for. Your other pitches can be shelved for now.

Plus, I heard you're closer than ever. 😉 Don't waste your press access.

Yvanna Adriano

i mean

it's not really press access, boss, naging close lang din kami

i mean it just happened, it's not like press access

Lillian Duenas

Close how? Is there anything we need to flag? Anything The Loop can release? Exclusives? First to report?

Yvanna Adriano

wala po, boss.

Lillian Duenas

You sure?

We want people to stay in The Loop, remember?

Yvanna Adriano

i'm sure po.

i'll finish my revised draft!

Lillian Duenas

Okay, I'm looking forward to it.

Great job, Yvanna.

Yvanna Adriano

thank you, boss.

🔒 @yvannugh

before, you always had notes. now it feels like you're just saying do what you're doing because the numbers are good.

🔒 @yvannugh

churnalism na ba to? hay.

jem

10:02 AM

hiiiiiii

Hey, you.

Kovi's killing it.

How are you feeling?

good.

sabay ako kay ronnie papunta sa araneta, if that's okay?

Is this your way of saying you want to spend time with me after the game?

kung ayaw mo di wag

Hahahahahahaha, sungit

Of course I want to. I was going to ask you as well.

Sent you through IG the menu for lunch after. There's coffee, but for food, pick something unless you want me to pick for you.

a man after my own needs 🥰

ikaw na bahala, you know my preferences. di na ko titingin diyan

i'm gonna get ready

kamusta ka? you're good?

Ah, I feel pumped.

And motivated.

More so, I feel relieved someone else knows, too.

That YOU know.

It doesn't feel as scary anymore. It loses a bit of its power.

good. that's kind of the whole point of telling someone you trust

kahit papano, someone else can carry the weight with you

The best part is that I think you still like me.

mag-focus ka na diyan jem nakakairita ka na

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Take care. 😽

gc ng mga walang papa

10:59 AM

Ronnie

B, here na kami ni Tito @Yvanna

gwenny

ENJOY MGA BEBEKOOOOO

hello tito stepdaddy 🤩

Yvanna

going down na!!

jem

11:46 AM

You're here?

Okay, I see you.

Wanna kiss me first?

i don't want you to develop a psychological reliance on my kisses, king eagle.

That made me laugh out loud, fuck.

I'll see you out there, Reporter Barbie.

please don't suck

Wouldn't dream of it. :)

Laters, Yvanna.

OCTOBER 22, ADMU vs. FEU

- first quarter, two assists, one pull-up mid-range. not waiting for the game to come to him—he's taking it. 6 pts off the jump

- 2nd qtr, feu pressing hard. vargas doesn't back down, directing, calling, pushing. smiling.

- halftime, ateneo up 8.

- third quarter, FEU cuts it to 4, vargas takes the next three possessions himself, forcing turnovers. won't give them the momentum. passes to yape and piencenaves, gets sharper, more urgent.

- fourth quarter, king eagle takes over. HUNGRY. hits 2 3s back-to-back

- final: 81-74

- note: he wanted that.

- that's the player i've been waiting to write about.