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[av_heading heading=’BUZZER BEATER | Time for change at UST’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Friday, May 12, 2017
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FOLLOWING the departure of Henri Lorenzo Subido, another veteran player — Mario Bonleon — is reportedly not suiting up for the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in the upcoming UAAP Season.
Bonleon was curiously not on the Tigers lineup when they suffered another humiliating defeat to the University of the East Red Warriors on Wednesday night at the FilOil Basketball Premier Cup, further fueling speculations.
A source from the Tigers camp told the Buzzer Beater that Subido and Bonleon had a misunderstanding with head coach Rodil Sablan, forcing them to sit out the upcoming UAAP season or, maybe, transfer to another school.
“Dahil kay coach iyon,” said the source. “Kasi sa ibang aspects naman, like grades, wala naman silang problema. Hindi lang talaga sila magkasundo sa pamamalakad ni coach.”
Sadly for the Tigers, Subido and Bonleon were major contributors during the past few seasons and could also be a big part of Tigers campaign this season as they aim to recover from an eighth-place finish.
The source also noted that some incoming rookies are also thinking twice in committing to the Tigers not because of the thinner benefits offered by the school but, again, because of how Sablan handles the team.
“Sa totoo lang madaming gustong pumasok sa UST. Wala silang reklamo kung mas mababa iyong benefits compared to other schools. Pero kung nakausap na si coach, biglang nag-aatrasan iyong iba,” said the source.
With the problems hounding the Tigers, maybe it’s time for the school management to evaluate Sablan or risk another fail and humiliating performance in the upcoming UAAP men’s basketball season.
It can be remembered that it was Sablan who said he cannot do anything to wield the Tigers to victory since all he got were just “role players.” The UST community does not deserve to have a coach like that for its basketball team.
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The GlobalPort Batang Pier’s playoffs push in the 2017 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup suddenly got a lease of life after acquiring a number of quality players from a four-team, seven-player trade recently.
In that trade, which also involves sister-teams NLEX Road Warriors, TNT Katropa and Meralco Bolts, the Batang Pier was able to boost its lineup with the entry of Sean Anthony, Bradwyn Guinto and rookie Jonathan Grey.
To acquire the three youthful players — two of them part of the Gilas Pilipinas pool — the Batang Pier let go of the ineffective JR Quinahan and rarely used Anthony Semerad, who went to Road Warriors and Katropa, respectively.
“Sean will give us the experience, leadership, and can play the 3 and 4 spots,” said Batang Pier head coach Franz Pumaren, who also handled Anthony when he was still with Air 21 Express. “Bradwyn and Jonathan will give us depth and flexibility.”
The Batang Pier is currently on ninth place in the standings with a 3-6 win-loss record and is still in contention to occupy one of the eight quarterfinals slots if its performs well in its remaining matches in the conference.
It will continue its playoff push against tough teams Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on May 26 at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City and San Miguel Beermen on June 2 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum./PN
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