2 Lions out of RP 5

By: Gerry Ramos
People's Journal
October 10, 2007

The Philippine men’s basketball team bound to the 24th Southeast Asian Games suffered a major setback after reigning NCAA men’s champion San Beda inexplicably pulled out two of its starting players from the national pool.

NCAA Finals Most Valuable Player Rogemer Menor and playmaker John Escobal were no longer allowed to practice with the RP squad beginning Monday, citing what a top San Beda official said would be a conflict in the players’ academic priorities.

The surprising move came just two days before the Harbour Centre-backed nationals are set to depart for Seoul, Korea to play a series of exhibition games as part of their preparation for the Dec. 6-15 SEA Games in Nakron Ratchasima, Thailand.

“It is part of the basketball program of San Beda College that the academics should go hand in hand with basketball. In cases there is conflict, it is readily resolved in favor of the academic standing of the player,” said Albert
Almendralejo, San Beda’s representative to the NCAA Management Committee (MANCOM), in a press statement.

The national team coaching staff under Junel Baculi was obviously disappointed with the withdrawal of Menor and Escobal in the lineup, but admitted it can’t do anything about it.

“That’s the prerogative of the school and we respect it. Nakakahinayang lang dahil they could be of big help in the country’s quest to defend the SEA Games basketball gold,” said the outspoken mentor.

Menor and Escobal played key roles in the Red Lions’ successful title retention bid this season, sweeping the Letran Knights in the best-of-three finals, 2-0, for their first back-to-back NCAA championship since 1977-78.

The San Beda players already attended the nationals’ practices more than three times, but surprisingly didn’t show up when the RP team’s training resumed this week.

Both were also not around when Harbour Centre tendered a send-off party for the team Monday night at Kamayan restaurant in Edsa.

Almendralejo said the Red Lions will have their hands full beginning the second semester when they defend their Champions League title, a commitment which he said would deny the players time for their four-day-a-week classes.

“So participating with the RP men’s team would mean they will be out four days a week, which will imperil their academics,” stressed the San Beda official. “We want all our players to graduate and be productive members of society.”