Just two weeks before the NCAA Season 95 Seniors Basketball tournament opens its curtains, the College of Saint Benilde Blazers were left scrambling.
Two of the big men meant to be their pillars for the future suddenly left the squad. Both 6-foot-7 Jay Pangalangan and 6-foot-6 Paolo Javillonar walked away from the team, multiple sources told Tiebreaker Times.
Pangalangan and Javillonar were still part of the Blazers’ Filoil lineup until June 10.
Ironically, it was against the Letran Knights – the school the two transferred to.
Paolo’s brother Jeff informed TY Tang and his staff that his family is requesting to move Paolo out of Benilde.
The reason? There were girls in the dorm, the source said.
A few days later, Paolo moved to Letran and will line up for Season 95. This is possible, since Benilde only starts its first semester in August.
On the other hand, Pangalangan also admitted to Benilde that he needs to further hone his skills to be NCAA-ready. This, after Benilde’s staff focused all of its resources on developing him in various pre-season leagues.
After Benilde granted his request, the Pampanga-native also moved to Letran, where he will join fellow Pampagueño Larry Muyang.
Pangalanan will have to sit out one year before being eligible to play in the NCAA, however.
With this, Benilde are left with Clement Leutcheu, Ladis Lepalam, Kendrix Belgica, and Edward Dixon to man their frontline.