JERRY Pingoy, father of controversial high school cager Jerie, has blasted the UAAP for the new two-year residency rule for transferring high school graduates which was imposed shortly after he bared his son’s desire to move from Far Eastern University to Ateneo.
Speaking during Monday’s Senate inquiry into the contentious rule called by Senator Pia Cayetano, Pingoy said the contentious rule will be a major blow to his son's basketball career.
“’Yung two-year residency, parusa sa anak ko kasi siya ‘yung naglalaro,” said the elder Pingoy. “Ako ‘yung dapat parusahan, hindi siya.”
“Kung ako ang board, masaya kaya sila kung baligtarin natin?” Pingoy added.
The elder Pingoy, a former PBA player, reiterated that his son will push through with his decision to transfer to Ateneo regardless of the new rule increasing the residency period for high school players transferring from one UAAP school that now requires the former FEU star to sit out for two years.
“Pangarap talaga ‘yan ng anak ko dahil idol niya si (former Blue Eagles star) Chris Tiu,” said Pingoy.
In his attempt to make his son’s dream a reality, Pingoy said he approached a friend who owns a mining business and has connections with the Ateneo community to help him facilitate Jerie's transfer.
“Nag-usap kami ng Ateneo at ang ibibigay daw ng Ateneo, ‘yung school at food allowance," he said as he shot down allegations that the young Pingoy had been lured into joining the Blue Eagles by other perks.
"‘Yung mga haka-haka, hindi totoo ‘yun,” Pingoy added.
Pingoy said the two-time UAAP juniors MVP has worked so hard to get to where he is now. “Hindi nila alam ang paghihirap ng anak ko,” said Pingoy, whose Cebu-based son joined FEU's high school team through the efforts of assistant coach Horacio Lim.
Despite the controversy, the elder Pingoy thanked FEU, specifically mentioning its UAAP board representative Anton Montinola and athletic director Mark Molina, for supporting his son during high school career.
“Nagpapasalamat ako kay Mr. Anton Montinola dahil mahal na mahal nila ang anak ko. Karangalan ng FEU na may nag-back-to-back MVP (silang player) for the first time. Pero hindi ko desisyon ito,” said Pingoy.
Montinola didn’t attend the Senate inquiry.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
