THAT talented big man Jonnel Policarpio wore out his welcome at NLEX in so short a time no longer came as a surprise.
The No. 6 overall pick in the PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft had a tumultuous stay with the Road Warriors during a rookie season that saw him go AWOL (Absent Without Leave), missing practices and actual games, sources say.
No one among the NLEX team members and management would talk about the issue, but sources by SPIN.ph around the PBA have confirmed that Policarpio’s misdemeanors were the reason why the Road Warriors grudgingly decided to let go of such talent in a three-team, six-player trade that also involved Converge and Meralco.
READ Bolick points to Policarpio, Valdez as 'X-factors' in NLEX season
“They (NLEX) gave up on him. Nanghihinayang sila but they have to do it. Sayang yung talent ng bata,” said one source, aware of the situation between Policarpio anf the Road Warriors.
Under the deal that is pending approval of the PBA Commissioner’s Office, Policarpio along with Javee Mocon are bound for Converge for the duo of Schonny Winston and veteran Kevin Racal.
Meralco will then enter the picture by acquiring Mocon from the FiberXers in exchange for sophomore guard Kurt Reyson and a future second-round pick.
A member of the De La Salle team that won the Season 86 UAAP men’s basketball championship, the 24-year-old Policarpio carried high expectations given his size, length, and athleticism.
READ Converge parts way with Winston, Racal for Policarpio, Reyson
While those potentials would be on display during his short stay at NLEX, Policarpio also had some 'extra-curricular activities' outside the court that often led to him losing focus on his career.
Poli was, as basketball pages on social media would readily show, a fixture in ligang labas games all over the country.
At one point last season, Policarpio was nowhere to be found at NLEX practices and during games itself that management, understandably left frustrated, decided it was time to let the player go.
“Alam ko give-up na sa kanya ang management nung time na yun,” said the source.
But Policarpio showed up one day in practice, apologized to the team, and made amends with the coaching staff and management, enabling him to finish his rookie season in an NLEX uniform.
Everything went well all the way to the Philippine Cup, only for Policarpio to miss the team’s practices for more than a week when the Road Warriors returned to training for the coming Commissioner’s Cup.
“I think Jan. 19 ang balik ng team, but he didn’t show up until Jan. 28,” the source added.
A native of Arayat, Pampanga, Policarpio will be reunited with Pampanga basketball patron and current Converge coach Dennis Pineda in what the source hope, would bring out the potential of the 6-foot-5 forward sans the distraction.
“Baka mas ma-disiplina siya under coach Delta. Sayang kasi, talented na player si Poli,” the source said.
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