Next to last, the Ateneo Legends team, composed of the school’s former basketball players, was introduced. Then came the current Blue Eagles, who would play the Legends, trotting out onto the fabled floor.
All except BJ Manalo.
"It was a personal decision on my part not to play for Ateneo," the former De La Salle Green Archer told The STAR.
"It wasn’t because I had a disagreement with anybody."
"Right now, we’re exploring all options," Manalo continued. "I might play for the RP team. It’s all up to Dondon (Monteverde, Manalo’s manager).
Manalo, a member of UAAP junior champion Blue Eaglets teams in the late 1990’s, shocked the Ateneo community by leaving the nest for the seniors team of bitter rival De La Salle University in 1999.
Then he and head coach Franz Pumaren did not see eye to eye. Prior to last season, the PBL veteran had solidified his reputation as a blue-chip prospect, taking Mike Cortez’s spot as the Green Archers’ starting point guard, suiting up for their PBL team, and playing for the country’s men’s team.
However, he tore both the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee from all the stress of playing, and was unable to participate in a fourth season for DLSU. As early as December, some Ateneo officials were already welcoming him back, going so far as to tailor a uniform for him even before he had announced any decision to return.
An informed source told The STAR yesterday Norman Black’s studied advice as coaching consultant for the Ateneo varsity team precipitated Manalo’s resignation.
Manalo heard that Black had prevailed over coach Sandy Arespacochaga that his recent form could only wreak havoc on team chemistry and effectivity if he were to receive special consideration, and not treated as a rookie fighting for playing time.
The controversial cager’s re-entry and insistence on playing his last year at the UAAP with his former Alma Mater, which he abandoned for four years of college ball with the rival De La Salle Green Archers, had reportedly caused not only dissension among alumni who were the team’s avid supporters, but also growing resentment on the part of the team’s mainstays.
It was pointed out that Larry Fonacier, who is expected to lead the Blue Eagles’ charge for UAAP’s 67th season, has been disgruntled but kept quiet over Manalo’s inclusion as a starter.
"Larry and the rest of the expected starters found him to be a liability when it came to the fast attacking pace they’re used to, as Manalo has slowed down considerably since the injury that sidelined him last season," the source told The STAR.
It was noted that Manalo had not been of much help during the Eagles’ forgettable showing at the last PBL conference, where he simply deprived Magnum Membrere and Badge del Rosario of playing time.
Arespacochaga kept trying out a 10-man rotation, the source said, which was due to Fr. Tito Caluag’s fervent wish to have Manalo rejoin the Eagles in a big way, against the protest of some alumni who questioned the propriety of Manalo’s "crossovers" from Ateneo to La Salle and back.
Black reportedly finally stepped in and advised Arespacochaga to stick to the usual eight-to-nine-man rotation, and have Manalo earn his playing time as someone new with the team.
When Manalo heard that he would have to spend considerable time on the bench, The STAR source said, he opted out.