5/2/2006 - Suspension already stunting Archers five

THERE’S an air of uncertainty over the Green Archers of  La Salle  University.

With a one-year ban already slapped on them by the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Board next season, the future of La Salle men’s basketball team looks dim.

The man tasked to handle the team after head coach Franz Pumaren resigned late last year in the wake of the eligibility scandal admitted to Sports Times on Saturday that he has no idea what the school’s plans for the team will be.

“The possibilities could be to hire a new coach, extend our contract or reinstate coach Franz. Right to now, we have no idea. It’s up to the school,” Jack Santiago, the Archers’ top assistant coach, told Sports Times.

“But now, the focus of the team is the Father Martin’s Cup. Whatever the developments, the school will decide, and we will follow,” he added.

La Salle’s athletics director, Brother Bobby Casingal, in a press conference on Thursday told the press that it’s hard for them to divulge the future plans of the school for the team.

“The team has been practicing without a head coach, just the coaching staff. Admittedly without a head coach, it’s difficult to come up with a long-term plan,” said Casingal.

Santiago, who played college ball for the Mapua Tech Cardinals, has been handling the team since Pumaren resigned last November, being assisted by fellow deputies Tyrone Bautista and Tonichi Yturri.

But his contract is about to expire this June, and he hasn’t heard a word from the school if he will get an extension or not.

The former Philippine Basketball Association point guard also acknowledged the fact that the eligibility scandal has affected the school’s recruitment.

“A lot of players want to play for La Salle but because of what happened, they are thinking twice. But we still have our good recruits on the team,” said Santiago.

UAAP Juniors Finals Most Valuable Player Si­mon Atkins, Serbian Marko Batrice­vic—who played for La Salle Greenhills in the National Collegiate Athletic Association two years ago—Brian Ilad and Allan Mangahas from Philippine Christian University have been practicing with the Green Archers.

Although Santiago himself is unsure if these players will enroll in the coming school year, he was persuaded that they will do so.

“They told us they are willing to wait [to play], and that they’re still young. And that’s a good sign for the team. You can’t help but admire them for committing,” said Santiago.

Ryan Arana, the gutsy forward, was already gone from the team due to academic reasons, but JV Casio, Tyrone Tang, OJ Cua, Cholo Villanueva, PJ Walsham and Rico Maierhofer will still be with the Green Archers when they make a comeback in the 70th UAAP season.

That is, if La Salle decides to stay with the league—and Santiago again admitted that he has no control of the school’s possible decision to pull out of the league.

“If La Salle has other plans, I can’t do anything about it. For sure, they [officials] know what’s best for the school,” he said.