Colegio de San Juan de Letran is facing the possibility of opening its NCAA Season 100 campaign with a further depleted roster as veteran big man Pao Javillonar is set to miss the Knights' first few games.
The seasoned big man was slapped with a three-game suspension after playing for one game with Converge during the FiberXers' run at the 39th Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament in late July.
Javillonar, though, revealed that he had sent a letter to the league before the Kadayawan event to seek permission. The letter, according to Javillonar, may not be received by the NCAA, resulting in his suspension.
Letran is also set to appeal Javillonar's case, hoping to lower the sanction to at least just one game as the Knights are looking to begin their redemption tour following a horror Season 99 journey.
"Ayun nga suspended for three games pero sobrang sakit kasi three games ‘yun. Neg-letter ako bago maglaro doon sa invitational game, nakapagpaalam ako. [Pero] hindi ata nila na-receive. So ayun, sana pwedeng mababaan na ‘wag namang three games kasi last year ko na eh," Javillonar told the media during a press conference on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
"Kumbaga last 18 games na lang ako, na-take away pa sa akin ‘yung three games. Mabigat ‘yun, gustong-gusto kong makalaro and makatulong sa team lalo na sa part ko as team captain."
While Javillonar and the Knights await the decision from the management committee, Letran is not losing its focus in their first game on Sunday against San Sebastian College-Recoletos.
Javillonar's possible absence was another huge blow for the Knights as they are already tipped to miss the services of rising guard Titing Manalili, who will be sidelined for the whole season due to an undisclosed injury.
"It is what it is pero sana pwede pang pagusapan. Nagpasa ulit ako na pwedeng babaaan, nag-letter ulit ako."
Incoming rookie coach Allen Ricardo said they would like to kick things off the right way and the best way they can do it is secure the season opener victory against the rebuilding Stags.
"We're trying to appeal that sa ManComm, sana mabawasan," Ricardo said.
"We take it one game at a time so ayun lang muna kami but I'm excited this Sunday. I'm confident with the boys, medyo shaky kami for the past two weeks."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
