CHICAGO - While most UAAP schools have already finalized their rosters and began practicing for the upcoming Season 88, the University of the East has yet to find a new head coach.
While the school and its chief booster, Tanduay Rum, take their sweet time in finding Jack Santiago's successor, the growing instability has provided traction for two of the Red Warriors' best players to scamper toward the exit door.
Per sources, the representation of Precious Momowei and John Abate is actively looking for other playing options.
READ Coach E withdraws from UE search for new coach
Momowei, the chief engineer of UE's roller-coaster ride in Season 87 who averaged 12.5 points, 13.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 14 games, is exploring two choices - go overseas or join a UAAP contender as a one and done reinforcement.
Abate, meanwhile, is being pushed to enter the PBA Draft. The Fil-Am out of Spring Hill College in Alabama averaged 7.9 points and 3.5 boards in 15 games while shooting a deadly 36.1 percent (13-of-36) from 3.
Apparently, I am told, uncertainty over who will assume the UE clipboard isn't the only source of frustration for Momowei, Agate and the rest of the players. Their December allowances were allegedly given a month late, infecting the program with demoralization.
NO MONEY NO HONEY.
During the regime of Santiago, a source said, the then coach used to shoulder all the players' allowances out of his own pocket while waiting for the funds to arrive.
That's not exactly the template on how a university meanders itself in the hearts of the players and makes them work hard.
Depending who you ask, the UE men's basketball head coach position pays between P200,000 to P300,000 a month, loose change compared to what the big programs compensate their high-profile hires.
Still, the prestige of the UAAP and its exclusive nature being only one of eight jobs in the entire Philippines has attracted some big names to the vacancy.
So far, the list of candidates has included three former PBA coaches - Chris Gavina, Ariel Vanguardia and Frankie Lim.
Also in the mix is flamboyant American Chris Daleo who has put together excellent credentials while toiling in the US and overseas, notably in Thailand and Vietnam where he resurrected dead programs and turned them into contenders.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on UE.
And should the Momowei-Agate exodus materialize, the Red Warriors only have themselves to blame for not having a Plan B in place after deciding to sever ties with Santiago.
In the parlance of times, SMH.
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