After months of speculation, FEU star players Mac Belo and Russel Escoto have confirmed that they will no longer suit up for the Tamaraws this coming UAAP Season 79, which is set to open this September.
Belo and Escoto’s final year was supposed to be 2015, but a recent rule change by the board regarding player eligibility made them qualified for one more run this season. Their eligibility to play for FEU one last time sparked expectations from the Tamaraw horde that they would return and try to win title number 21 for the school.
The vital cogs of FEU’s Season 78 championship run finally spoke about the months-long uncertainty on Thursday afternoon, after the Phoenix Accelerators defeated the Cafe France Bakers, 93-81, to secure the second seed heading into the semis of the 2016 PBA D-League Foundation Cup.
“One month na lang kasi before UAAP. And ang focus ng mga [FEU] coaches, sa mga mas bata na. So Gilas muna ako ngayon,” Belo shared.
Escoto, on the other hand, also rued that he’s done representing the green and gold community in the collegiate ranks.
“No more coming back,” said the six-foot-six stretch four, who had sat out the whole Season 76 due to an ACL tear and missed the Season 78 playoffs after sustaining a shoulder injury.
Belo has made it clear that his focus for now is on the Gilas Cadets, while Escoto is still uncertain if he will wear the Philippine colors in the next years or try his luck in the PBA.
When asked for comments about the recent confirmation made by his players, FEU head coach Nash Racela said that they have been expecting the decision.
“Actually Sir Mark Molina [FEU Athletic Director] told us to let the players decide. We have anticipated the worst, but we are ready for it,” said the Gilas Pilipinas assistant coach.
“This is a new chapter for the team,” he added.
