CHICAGO -- For the second year in a row, a tremor has shaken the Ateneo men's basketball program.
But unlike the abrupt transfer of Mason Amos to UAAP rival La Salle, the exit of Kristian Porter from Katipunan is unburdened by neither malice nor alleged misdemeanor poaching.
When reached for comment, officials at Ateneo were mum as informants under the Witness Protection Program, but sources with knowledge of the situation told me on Tuesday afternoon that Porter's case was "purely about academics."
READ: Porter bound for rival after bidding farewell to Ateneo?
According to my source, Porter's QPI was in danger of going underwater for the year, a deficiency that would require him to appeal to stay in school. Once the appeal is granted he would have to sit out for a year to improve his QPI before resuming to play in Season 89.
Before you make any irresponsible judgements, Porter is a smart kid who was a product of the high standard Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu. He has the mental might to tackle the rigors of a philosophy major,
JUGGLING FOR SUCCESS.
But balancing elite athletics and world class academics is a perilous trapeze act. Sometimes, unfortunately, the other hand loses the grip.
The 19-year old Porter played 14 games as a Blue Eagle in Season 87 where he averaged 6.5 points and 6.8 rebounds while logging just a shade over 22 minutes and 29 seconds.
With Porter gone, foreign student athlete Divine Adili will assume the starting center job.
As expected, a 6-foot-4, 260-lb young talent who had gone through a full season under coach Tab Baldwin's championship program is attracting a lot of suitors.
The College of St. Benilde in the NCAA was rumored to be a destination but head coach Charles Tiu quickly put a lid on it.
"No, but I wish," Tiu told me via text message. "Would love to have him. Got a chance to coach his brother for a bit and saw a lot of potential in him."
OTHER POSSIBLE LANDING SPOTS INCLUDE UST OR FEU, I AM TOLD.
He will do great at UST with fellow former Blue Eagle Fortsky Padrigao who rose to stardom last season as one of the best point guards in the league.
Porter will also thrive at FEU under coach Sean Chambers who is proving to be an excellent play-caller after taking over the Tamaraws' program.
But as they say, it ain't over until the fat lady sings.
What if UP and La Salle decide to enter the picture with their unlimited recruiting resources?
Now, that would be a game-changer.
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