Two Eagles dropped, move to FEU

MANILA, Philippines – Arvin Tolentino and Hubert Cani, two players who were dropped by Ateneo after falling short of the school’s internal grade requirements, have packed their bags for Morayta and joined reigning UAAP men’s basketball champion Far Eastern U.

Tolentino, the UAAP Season 77 Rookie of the Year, and Cani, a sophomore guard, both posted on Twitter two heart icons each bearing the green and gold color of FEU along with a smiley yesterday and reportedly showed up at the Tams’ practice.

FEU athletic director Mark Molina confirmed that Tolentino and Cani have indeed elected to join FEU.

“Nothing official yet. We’re happy both Arvin and Hubert chose FEU. We will meet with them and check their transfer documents so we can make it official,” Montinola told The STAR.

The former Blue Eagles, though, will have to sit out the coming Season 79 hoop wars to comply with one-year residency requirement for transferring players. Tolentino will have two playing years left while Cani will have three.

Tolentino and Cani were actually on the wish-list of coach Nash Racela after they capped their high school stints with San Beda and National U, respectively.

Tolentino and Cani followed teammate Jerie Pingoy in the exodus from Ateneo.

Pingoy, who similarly encountered academic problems at the Katipunan-based university, had earlier decided to transfer to Adamson. CJ Perez, who are in the same boat as the trio, had moved to Lyceum over at the NCAA.   

As this developed, former Eaglets stars and Batang Gilas mainstays Jolo Mendoza, Dave Ildefonso, and Gian Mamuyac have been elevated to the Blue Eagles’ Team A from Team B, according to Ateneo team manager Epok Quimpo.