CHICAGO - On a busy day filled with PBA and PVL news, a ticker in the sports headlines scrolled an update in the UAAP men's basketball side yesterday.
Rain Maga has left the University of the East to join powerhouse University of the Philippines.
Losing a key piece a few months before Season 88 starts is a bad omen. Unfortunately for the Red Warriors, Maga was just the tip of the iceberg and things can get worse faster than you can say UE.
READ UP adds another transferee in Rain Maga to help fill JD Cagulangan void
A source with knowledge to the brewing exodus told me on Thursday night that more players could follow in Maga's disgruntled footsteps.
Despite the feel-good vibes on just having hired a new head coach, Chris Gavina, who replaced Jack Santiago, it's been a summer of discontent for several players whose allowances are being paid on long delays, the source revealed.
Happy player, happy life?
MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND.
Apparently, not the case at UE where budget has long been an issue, a financial challenge that hampered Santiago's success.
During the search to replace Santiago, whose contract expired last January, I covered the story extensively and found out by talking to some candidates that monetary support from UE's main booster is allegedly slow to trickle.
Calls and text messages sent to coach Gavina were left unanswered as of posting time.
Under the backdrop of a torrid recruiting war for FEU ace Veejay Pre, it is unfortunate that UE couldn't keep a good player and a great contributor because of a self-inflicted wound.
Maga had a modest average of 8.1 points per game last season, but he shot the 3 at a 40 percent clip. He will be missed.
This comes at a time when Gavina had spoken so nobly and beautifully about "restoring the luster" at UE.
Not gonna happen. Not when money is tight.
The reality right now in the UAAP is money talks and BS walks. I'm not saying Gavina is just talking crap, I'm just saying his program doesn't appear to have the funds to keep talent, let along recruit it.
The sound you heard was the slamming on another Final Four door at the once storied University of the East.
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