Tams tight-lipped on Barroca's fate

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U is in a dilemma whether to drop team captain Mark Barroca from its roster or allow him to play when it squares off with University of the East tomorrow in the Final Four of the 72nd UAAP basketball tournament tomorrow at the Big Dome.

There were speculations that Barroca, a co-captain at Smart Gilas Pilipinas, will not be allowed to suit up after the FEU skipper allegedly held back part of his game toward the end of the elimination round.

Top FEU officials neither confirmed nor denied the report but said they would come out with an official statement soon.

“No comment for now, the situation is fluid,” said league president Anton Montinola of host FEU.

However, FEU sources said that Barroca, who averaged a team best 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 steals, has not left the FEU campus in Morayta or the team quarters.

“Barroca is still in the campus,” a source told The STAR.

There were reports that the Tams may opt to play the Warriors without Barroca because of a drop in his performance but top school officials are reportedly still mulling the possibility of the ace player returning to the FEU fold.

“The fact that he (Barroca) is still in the campus reinforces talks that he might still play in the Final Four although the chances (of his suiting up) are slim,” said the same source.

Although Montinola didn’t admit it, a media clampdown was being enforced at the moment among all FEU officials, coaching staff headed by Glenn Capacio and the players themselves.

Barroca scored only eight points, all in the first quarter, in a 73-74 loss to Ateneo at the close of the second round where FEU led by as many as 18 points.

“It’s a very sensitive issue, I want to protect him,” said Montinola of Barroca.

FEU had its share of controversy in the league with former mainstay Mac Baracael being shot by an unidentified gunman in the middle of last year’s season. Baracael, now with Smart Gilas Pilipinas, survived the incident and managed to return late in the tournament.

Two years ago, FEU also sacked forward Alfred Gerilla for unknown reasons while the 2006 squad was revamped as it crashed out of the Final Four a season after winning the men’s crown.

There were reports that Barroca denied the allegations of being involved in game-fixing and the entire team would give its full support to its skipper in the event the school officials would allow him to play in the Final Four.

FEU, which finished second after the elimination round with an 11-3 (win-loss) slate, plays No. 3 UE at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow and would need just a win to advance to the best-of-three finale.

The other semifinals pitting reigning champion Ateneo, which topped the elimination with a 13-1 card, against No. 4 Santo Tomas is scheduled the next day at 3:30 p.m. at the same venue.

The Eagles also own the critical twice-to-beat bonus.