Saturday, June 28, 2008 Lancers’ star rookie demoted for ‘bad attitude’
IN 2007, no other rookie stood out more than University of the Visayas’ (UV) recruit Sylvester Tancongco.
Tancongco, whom UV head coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug referred to as his next superstar, became the multi-titled coach’s secret weapon in their do-or-die Game 5 finals match against University of San Carlos.
The unlikely hero, as he was called in that match, Tangcongco overshadowed the more veteran players, as he dictated the game’s tempo en route to winning UV’s seventh straight title.
Tancongco, the lanky recruit from Cagayan de Oro, suddenly became a star with his impressive performance and suddenly becoming the reason why people look forward to UV’s next game.
However, this year, Tancongco could only stick out like a sore thumb as he is in the limelight for the wrong reasons.
All the big plans that Cabahug had for his rookie faded as Tancongco was found to have gotten into “bad habits and attitude problems” that Cabahug had no choice but to demote him from being in the main lineup to the trainees’ pool.
“As a disciplinary action, we decided to drop him out of the main roster and into the under trainee program of UV,” said Cabahug.
Cabahug said that the decision was not without basis as he also checked with his past records with his school in Cagayan de Oro and found that he had the same problem.
“We are giving him a chance to change. I do not want to just let him go because he is still in school. If things take a better turn next year, then we can put him back at the frontlines, where his talents have great use of,” said Cabahug.
This year, the Cesafi has become more stifling in its rules against trouble-makers, cleanliness and drug use, which were approved by the board yesterday.
Those found to have a part in bench-clearing and free for all, will be meted with a yearlong suspension from the coaches, team officials to the water boys.
For the cleanliness part, players are no longer allowed to have stylish hairs to maintain a clean image as they are supposed to be representing their schools. As for drug use, random drug testing will be made and those found positive for banned substances will be banned from the league for life. (MCB)
