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Ni Ime SornitoBY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Wednesday, May 3, 2017
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BLIND ITEM: A veteran PBA player, who is known for his dirty tricks on the court, could be in for a lot of trouble if proven that his appearance in a pocket tournament recently was illegal.
The Buzzer Beater tried to ask around if the stint of the said PBA veteran had the go-signal from his mother team since the pocket tournament happened when the PBA is on a break for the All-Star Week but did not get any categorical answer.
We also spoke to a member of the team that he played for in the said four-day tournament, but instead requested that the PBA veteran’s name be removed from the news articles.
“Mas maganda siguro kung hindi na lang isasama ang name ni (PBA veteran) sa (mga news articles) para safe,” he said. “Actually, pagdating ko sa team na ito nandyan na yung mga players.”
Some PBA teams have been very strict in implementing rules on players suiting up in “ligang labas” or unsanctioned tournaments since it can be detrimental to their careers in case they suffer injuries.
Just a few months ago, the Alaska Aces suspended two of its key players after being caught playing in “ligang labas”, while rookie Jeff Viernes was recently waived by the Phoenix Fuel Masters after playing in another league in Bulacan using another name.
Meanwhile, the Buzzer Beater contacted an official of the PBA but said that there are no specific fines or sanctions for a “ligang labas” violator and it will be up to their mother teams to resolve it.
“Depende kasi yan sa rules ng mother team niya. Kung sakali namang may pahintulot nung team niya na lumaro siya sa ‘ligang labas’ then walang issue yung sa PBA,” said the PBA official.
***
Mapua Cardinals head coach and PBA legend Fortunato “Atoy” Co was fuming when he faced the media while scouting for possible new recruits in the 2017 edition of the Palarong Pambansa.
The reason for the outrage of the “Fortune Cookie”: the decision of two-time NCAA MVP Allwell Oraeme to leave the Cardinals and, according to Co, go back to Nigeria.
“Wala nang Oraeme sa Mapua. Nagpaalam siya at ang katwiran ay hindi na raw siya masaya sa Mapua. Uuwi na lang daw siya sa Nigeria,” Co said. “Pero para sa akin, iyong rason na iyon, napakababaw na rason.”
“Sa tingin ko diyan, merong walang respeto na pumapailalim at kinakausap iyong bata,” he added. “Nauulit-ulit lang. Dati ang sinasabi ayaw niya maglaro sa akin tapos ngayon naman ang ginagawang dahilan ay uuwi ng Nigeria.”
“Unang-una, tatanungin ko, bakit ba siya nandito? Dahil mahirap ang buhay nila sa Nigeria. Kaya sila pumunta rito para sa good future. Ngayon sasabihin mo uuwi ka ng Nigeria? Parang walang katotohanan,” he said.
The Cardinals mentor also said that if ever some universities will try to seek the release of Oraeme, he will never sign any clearance. He also threatened to have the Nigerian center banned from playing basketball in the country.
“Tapos ang gagawin niya, babalik siya ulit dito tapos sasabihin, wala kasing ginagawa sa Nigeria. Ang hindi nila naiintindihan, bago siya makalaro sa ibang school, kailangang hihingi muna ng clearance ko,” Co said.
“Kapag umuwi siya, I will see to it na hindi na siya makakabalik ng Pilipinas. Umuwi siya kung umuwi (ng Nigeria), pero pipilitin ko sa aking mumunting paraan, hindi siya makakabalik dito,” he added.
It was not the first time that Co encountered the same problem with Oraeme after blasting the De La Salle University Green Archers for trying to lure the Nigerian center with money.
But in an interview with ABS-CBN on Wednesday, Oraeme denied that he told Co that he is leaving the Cardinals for good and instead want to go back to Nigeria just for vacation.
“I told him that I will be going back home (to Nigeria), but I didn’t tell him I won’t be coming back (to Mapua),” the 6-foot-10 Oraeme said. “I love Mapua. That’s all I can say right now.”
Regardless of what the outcome of the standoff between Co and Oraeme will be, the Cardinals mentor is preparing for the worst and is now searching for possible recruits.
“Sa ngayon nandito tayo sa Antique to find some big man kasi naniniwala pa rin ako na height is might,” Co said. “May mga nakausap na akong ilang players and hopefully tanggapin nila ang invitation ko.”/PN
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