CHICAGO - Whether it's less colorful or checkered as a Burberry scarf, we all have a past.
Mac Tallo has one, too, and after nearly six years of steering clear from it, his prior transgression is about to catch up to him.
Recently signed by the Converge FiberXers to a two-year deal, the six-foot, 187-pound guard won't be allowed to play in the PBA until he serves a six-month suspension, according to multiple sources.
READ: Mac Tallo's PBA comeback on hold because of this
The restriction stems from an alleged 'drug infraction' while playing for NLEX.
"To the best of my recollection, he tested positive during a random test sometime in 2018 yata," Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao, then the bench boss for the Road Warriors, told me in a telephone interview.
Given how much water had already passed under the bridge, Guiao couldn't specifically recall if the violation was punished with a suspension or not.
But coach Yeng vividly remembers how sorry he felt for Tallo, who was just climbing the ranks as the No. 10 pick in the PBA draft of 2017 when he was originally picked by TNT.
"He was playing well for us, very solid kid. He has a good character, is talented, and works hard."
A GOOD GUY IN A BAD SPOT
Unfortunately, he hung out with the "wrong crowd" and may have indulged in a forbidden pleasure that led to a positive test.
But that's history now. Time always fixes what breaks.
"If there was a ruling, it should be enforced. But Converge should appeal," Guiao said. "If it were up to me, Mac deserves a second chance. Nawala siya sa PBA ng ilang taon, dapat time served na."
It's always hard to disagree with the wisdom of Yeng Guiao. This one's no different.
We're not arguing here that a sin must just be forgiven without any form of sanction, but in rendering judgment the PBA must understand that there are several extenuating circumstances here.
In adjudicating minor drug-related offenses, it must be noted that the end goal is for the offender to be rehabilitated, not demonized.
Following that stupid mistake in 2018, Tallo has moved on to be an upstanding citizen.
Now the country's top-ranked 3x3 player, the 29-year old Tallo gets tested before every FIBA-sanctioned event and has never yielded a positive result. He also gets tested by the Games and Amusement Board [GAB) annually for his license and he has stayed clean, his agent JR L Guevarra told me on the phone.
BEST PLAYER
In the recent Converge pocket tournament, Tallo emerged as Best Player of the Game twice. The man can hoop. Let him showcase his talents for PBA fans to see now, not six months later.
If the league insists on punishing Mac Tallo, it wouldn't look like justice. It would come across as a grudge.
Tallo played 3x3 for Chooks-To-Go and he is bound for Converge. Those two franchises aren't exactly the PBA's best friends, if you get my drift.
The sentiment of some fans is pro Tallo.
"Pansin ko lang bakit pinapahirapan ng PBA ang Converge? Nung una ayaw nila isama si Gov Delta [Pineda] sa team (as governor) ngayon naman ito," Hulyo Dela Piedra wondered.
"Let him play," Galex Cabrera implored.
Yup, it's the most logical thing to do. Test him, not ban him. Make sure he is clean, don't take his livelihood away.
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