CHICAGO - After initially planning on parading a new foreign student athlete for the upcoming Season 87 of the UAAP men's basketball tournament, it looks like traction is gathering for UST to reverse course.
The Tigers reportedly want Mo Tounkara back, perceived warts and all.
"The two sides are negotiating," a person with knowledge of the situation told SPIN.ph on Monday night, a tidbit that I was able to corroborate with personnel from rival schools which are keeping an eye on each other's arsenal.
READ Gavina out to build 'strong culture' in UE's new chapter
For weeks, Tounkara has been noticeably missing from team practices and a certain player named "Ndong" and Peter Osang have reportedly been competing for the temporarily vacated FSA spot.
Described as a "pretty good," Ndong emerged as the shoo-in for Tounkara's substitute until a disconnect disrupted the program's best-laid plans.
"Ilang days na hindi sumisipot sa practice," said a source, leaving the door for Tounkara's return.
BEST OPTION.
While the Tounkara-UST relationship may have soured the past few months, Mo's familiarity with his teammates and coach Pido Jarencio's system still makes the Malian the best import to reprise the Tigers' Final Four run last year.
The 6-foot-8 Tounkara averaged 13.4 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game in Season 87. A reunion with Forthsky Padrigao and Nic Cabanero gives the Tigers a three-headed monster.
If it happens, the Tigers' pack a lot of bite.
Meanwhile at the University of the East, the transitioning Red Warriors can count on having Precious Momowei and John Abate back in the fold after their representation threatened to pull out of the program following the non-renewal of former coach Jack Santiago's contract.
"We are giving coach Chris Gavina the respect and chance and we will let the boys decide. So far everything looks good," Phenom Sports told me via text message.
After an exhaustive search that flipped through the pages of a very thick phone book, UE officially announced the hiring of Gavina last February 14.
LABOR PEACE.
Phenom had previously endorsed other candidates, but it now appears that the sports agency is willing to work with the stoutly credentialed Gavina.
UE had a heartbreaking Season 87 that began with a flurry in the elimination round before fainting at the doorstep of the Final Four where Adamson beat them, 68-55, in a knockout match for the last semifinals ticket.
It's a wound Gavina is trying to heal, a task more doable with Momowei and Agate on board.
While it's exciting to see UST and UE sort out their personnel issues, La Salle and University of the Philippines remain the gold standard for Season 88, what with the talents those powerhouses possess.
Doomed by the injury to their foreign student athlete, the National University Bulldogs are pretty damn good this time around while Ateneo could spring some surprises.
Never a dull day in UAAP men's hoops.
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