Twilight for the Knights?

Will there still be a San Juan Knights team in the MBA?

This is a question hanging over the current Metropolitan Basketball Association national champion in light of the political upheaval that has caused a change of national government in the last few days.

"I’m not sure if there will be a San Juan Knights anymore," Knights assistant coach Allan Borromeo told The STAR. "What happened was a major political change. I’m assuming there might not be a San Juan Knights. Of course, that’s just my assumption."

Borromeo, however, qualified his statement by saying that he has not received any formal notice regarding the future status of the team. The MBA’s 2001 season is scheduled to being in April.

The Knights are owned by businessman Sandy Javier and managed by San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, son of Pres. Joseph Estrada. According to Borromeo, Javier, chairman of the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners (MARHO), assumed ownership of the Knights out of his deep friendship with Mayor Estrada.

"We all know that Boss Sandy is a horse racing man at heart," Borromeo continued. "He only became fond of basketball because of Mayor Estrada, who loves the game."

At the ongoing tryouts for the Philippine men’s basketball team, Knights guards Chris Calaguio and Chito Victolero confirmed that only three members of their team, namely Calaguio and centers Bonel Balingit and Omanzie Rodriguez, still have live contracts with the San Juan franchise.

The Knights, an expansion franchise last year, won the MBA Crossover Cup via a sweep of the Laguna Lakers, then defeated the Negros Slashers in six games to claim their first MBA national championship two months ago.