Ortuoste, Garcia, Polican get cut by their college teams

MANILA, Philippines – With the summer basketball leagues ready to tip off, some familiar faces are finding themselves not only without a team but also without a school.

Jamil Ortuoste, who ran the point for San Sebastian the past three seasons, will now concentrate on getting his degree in Business Management and try to latch on to a PBA D-League team. According to new San Sebastian Stags coach Edgar Macaraya whom we contacted to clear the air, “Ortuoste will just concentrate on finishing his studies as he is graduating.”

Ortuoste says while getting his diploma is important, so is playing out his final year.

“Kaso na-cut ako sa team kasi yung ibang subject ko nagsabay sa oras ng practice,” clarified the 24-year-old from Antipolo City. “Tapos tinanggal yung mga allowances ko at yung lugar ko sa dorm.”

Not too far away from the Recto campus of San Sebastian, Adamson University cast adrift some key players from their squad. Center-forward Ivan Villanueva, shooting guard Jerome Garcia, and point guard William Polican have all been cut. According to new head coach Franz Pumaren, the players “we feel are having a hard time adjusting to our new system.”

Garcia, who up to recently was training with the squad, thought otherwise, “Hindi naman siguro ako nahirapan kasi at that time, first five pa niya (Pumaren) ako. Pero siguro ganyan po ang tingin niya at least binigay ko yung best ko. Nahihirapan talaga ako tanggapin nung tinanggal nila ako kasi last two years ko na lang sa Adamson. Sa tingin ko na-cut kami para sa mga recruit nila at sa mga Fil-Am."

Like Ortuoste, Garcia and his former Adamson teammates also lost their scholarships.

Garcia’s father, Jerry, who works with the telecasts of the Philippine Basketball Association as a part of the technical coverage of TV5, was upset with the cancellation of the scholarship.

“Ang hirap naman ng ganyan,” angrily expressed Garcia’s father. “Paano niya tatapusin yung pagaaral niya? Hindi naman ganun kadali maglipat or kung mag-offer man ng scholarship. Sana sinabi nalang nila nung na-recruit nila anak ko na tatanggalin nila scholarship niya kung sakali wala na siya sa team. Tiyak na hindi kami magpupunta diyan.”

Ortuoste will be trying out for Caida Tiles in the D-League while Jerome Garcia and Ivan Villanueva are currently playing in the Millennium Basketball League.