It will be a choice between the La Salle Green Archers and the San Beda Red Lions for two more University of Santo Tomas Growling Tiger members, who have left the their team.
Reigning Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy and Dennis Cuajao formally left the UST Tigers with heavy hearts yesterday.
Consultations with their respective families have kept them from deciding where their next journey will be.
But their manager-guardian Jax Chua said that they will finally make up their minds, once they are done with their family meetings.
Nonoy, the Rookie of the Year in the 82nd University Athletic Athletic Association of the Philippines men's cagefest, and Cuajao wrote emotional messages on Instagram.
“Napakabigat man para sa loob ko, kinakailangan ko ng katiyakan sa aking career para makapag-focus ulit sa basketball,” wrote Nonoy.
The plans of Nonoy and Cuajao to move over to the Taft-based Archers initially depended on former UST coach Aldin Ayo's fate.
Ayo is set to appeal his indefinite suspension from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
But with no clear word on Ayo's status as of Monday, Nonoy and Cuajo made up their minds to go.
“Hanggang sa huli, umaasa akong magkakaron ng linaw at maayus na patutunguhan ang team despite sa lahat ng pinagdaraanan namin. Ngunit hanggang ngayon walang tiyak na na direksyon. Mabigat man ang loob ko, kinakailangan ko na talaga mag-desisyon at maghanap ng katiyakan para sa career ko dahil dito ko binubuo ang pangarap ko para sa pamilya ko,” said Cuajao in his own message board.
The 5'8" Nonoy is the leading point guard of the Growling Tigers, while Cuajao is a 6'1" shooting guard.
Both players have been loyal to Ayo since he became their coach three years ago.
Nonoy earlier discussed with Adamson coach Franz Pumaren his plan to become a Falcon.
With the two leaving the Growling Tigers, a total of seven players will have left the team since controversy involving the squad began last August 20, following a training camp in Sorsogon at the height of the pandemic
It was triggered when skipper CJ Cansino was removed from from the team after he made efforts to explain to Ayo his mental health issues at that time.
Cansino eventually transferred to the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
Also leaving for other schools were Rhenz Abando, Ira Bataller, Brent Paraiso and Ferdinand Asuncion.
When Ayo gave up his post, assistant coaches McJour Luib and Jinino Manansala also quit.