For them, it was as if Menk had not even left.
"It’s always nice to be around kids, especially seeing how enthusiastic they are about basketball," said the Tanduay star as he conducted a cage clinic for a hundred or so grade schoolers at the España-based Dominican school.
The kids were eager to listen to what Menk has to say, but they were as excited to see Erik. Which just goes to show that in action or not, the 6-foot-5 Fil-American remains one of the most popular players in the Philippine Basketball Association.
And like these kids, Menk can’t seem to wait to see himself jumping into a pro-league floor—again.
"I’m hoping I can get that opportunity once more," said Menk, who has not seen action since the league imposed the No-DOJ-Clearance, No-Play policy midway last year.
"I hope it comes, sooner than later."
There has been a snowballing clamor for the league to allow the Tanduay cager to play again, something that further intensified after Asi Taulava got his clearance more than a month back and has since returned to make Mobiline formidable once more.
That clamor has been evident, as even lawyer fans have gone out of their respective ways to ring the PBA offices and offer their help — pro bono — for the beleaguered star.
"I really appreciate their concern and I thank them," Menk said. "But I know all of these things will be resolved because I know deep inside me that I am Filipino and that I have nothing to hide. There are just some technicalities that have to be dealt with."
Menk, his lawyers and those of Tanduay’s, are working double time to obtain that Department of Justice clearance he needs to be able to get back to active duty.
"It’s not that I’m sitting on my hands and doing nothing. I want to play. I am a professional basketball player more than anything else and I would want to get back to action, help Tanduay and maybe don a Philippine Team uniform."
Menk keeps himself in shape by joining the Tanduay practices and he has squeezed in a schedule to help the kids learn the game of basketball the proper way with his clinics, where he is being assisted by Tanduay assistant coaches Gie Abanilla, Dan Rose and Jun Tiongco.
After its kick off Thursday afternoon at Santo Tomas, the Erik Menk Basketball Clinic will travel to other schools, with the Rizal High School slated next week.
"I hope I can inpart some of my knowledge to these kids and teach them the value of hard work, discipline and teammanship."