WHAT ought to be a seemingly harmless April Fools' Day joke might not be a joke at all.
Or if it is, one of two rival schools may just have the last laugh.
UAAP insiders bared that a promising young player, seen as a potential cornerstone for a rebuilding squad, may be on the move soon.
A pair of UAAP teams are already in discussions with the player, both of which have a legitimate shot at wooing him out of his current lair.
READ Solomon, 6-foot-8, stays put at National U
If these talks do indeed progress, it continues a sad trend in the amateur leagues today with players jumping from one school to another like free agents in the professional league - regardless if you're already getting major minutes and being featured as a marquee stud.
Among those who got these top dog roles yet left for greener pastures were Rey Remogat (UP), Kean Baclaan, Jacob Cortez, and Mason Amos (La Salle).
What makes this case even worse for his current team is that this player isn't just primed to be a superstar, he's also touted to become a future UAAP MVP - meaning they'll certainly be left out on reaping the rewards of having him in their fort.
Talk about that joke being on you. - DL
BVS, Phillips federation switch already being processed
BROOKE Van Sickle and MJ Phillips are one step closer to representing the Philippines in international play.
Over a year since the idea was first floated, the Fil-American duo’s federation shift paperworks have now been ‘processed,’ as per a SPIN.ph source.
As it stands, however, both Van Sickle and Phillips are still affiliated with USA Volleyball.
They will be considered as imports for Petro Gazz in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League on Apr. 20 to 27 at the Philsports Arena, leaving them with one more reinforcement slot for the regional meet.
But by virtue of being half-Filipinos, the Angels were able to field them in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference which they ruled through a three-game title series win over perennial champion Creamline.
Van Sickle was named All-Filipino MVP for the second straight conference while Phillips won Finals MVP honors in her three-year PVL career.
Meanwhile, there are no updates yet on whether PLDT’s Fil-Canadian winger Savi Davison has had her transfer documents from Volleyball Canada processed.
The Fil-foreign trio was included in Alas Pilipinas’ 33-woman player wishlist, featuring names of college and pro stars sought to be invited for a series of tryouts for the country’s 2025 national team competitions.
It remains uncertain whether Alas will have the luxury of Van Sickle, Phillips and Davison in time for the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games this December in Thailand where the Philippines looks to end a two-decade women’s volleyball medal drought. - JM Garcia
Search for UST replacement as Tounkara turn pro
UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas is in no rush to find a replacement for its foreign student-athlete spot amid the fallout from Mo Tounkara's departure from Espana.
SPIN.ph sources shared that as far as the top brass of the school are concerned, players come and go in college basketball and teams only need to adapt.
"Wala na tayong magagawa sa mga gustong umalis. Ang mas mahalaga sa atin, yung mga gustong mag-stay," said a team insider.
Tounkara's decision to turn pro, signing with Malian club Stade Malien in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), didn't really come as a surprise for the Growling Tigers considering how tricky the negotiations have been with the 6-foot-8 center.
Though UST kept its lines open for a resolution considering the solid first year the 21-year-old had for the black-and-gold in UAAP Season 87, Tounkara's absence in the team's buildup at the start of the year was already the writing on the wall.
It turned out, that first year ended up as his lone year.
COLUMN: Mo Tounkara still part of UST Tigers' plans for next season?
Peter Osang has filled that spot in the offseason, as seen in the team's stints in the Pinoyliga Cup and the University Belt Basketball League.
But rather than cry over spilled milk, the Growling Tigers are more focused on the things they can control, foremost of which is the recruitment of its incoming rookies.
Although nothing has been formalized yet, UST is confident on its chances on the marquee players coming from the Tiger Cubs slate - all of whom were part of Manu Iñigo's championship-winning crew in the recently concluded boys basketball tournament.
Koji Buenaflor is the prime target, with the 6-foot-7 forward placing fifth in the NBTC high school rankings being courted by multiple UAAP teams. Also in the fray are shooter Carl Manding, winger Charles Bucsit, and center Alfred Loreto.
Head coach Pido Jarencio is also scouring talents overseas, holding tryouts in the United States and Canada this past week.
One thing's clear though: UST is ready to move on from Mo Tounkara. - DL
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