Hrabak out of RP team pool

The Philippine basketball team to the 2002 Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea lost a potential gunslinger in Mike Hrabak with the Shell management refusing to release the 6-foot-6 forward so he can join the tryouts being conducted for the national pool.

"Our initial understanding is that he’ll be among the 18 players Ron Jacobs will name to the pool. So ang gusto ng management, name him and we’ll give him to the national pool," said Shell team manager Bobby Villarosa.

Before Jacobs suffered a stroke, the American mentor, as required by the PBA board, named 17 PBA players as candidates for two candidate teams that will see action in the 2002 PBA season opening conference. But he made known his wish to acquire more PBA players through voluntary releases from their mother teams.

Among the PBA players Jacobs wanted to be included in the list of players to attend the final stage of tryouts which started last Monday were Hrabak, Alaska’s John Arigo, Purefoods’ EJ Feihl and Boyet Fernandez, San Miguel’s Olsen Racela and Dondon Hontiveros and Pop Cola’s Johnny Abarrientos.

All, except Hrabak, have shown up in the tryouts. Abarrientos and Racela appeared Monday and yesterday, respectively, but have yet to join the scrimmages because of injuries.

Hrabak was included in the initial list invited for the tryouts last December. However, the Fil-Am deadshot failed to attend a single session because he went to the United States right after their final game in the 2001 PBA season.

"Mukhang hindi rin siya keen to join the tryouts dahil katatapos pa lang ng varicose treatment niya. Hindi rin siya makakapagpakita ng maganda doon," said Villarosa.

Interim national coach Jong Uichico has said he intends to give everyone equal chance of making it to the team, including those who are injured.

Among those still hobbled by injuries are Abarrientos, Racela, Danny Ildefonso, Danny Seigle, Andy Seigle, Ali Peek and Kenneth Duremdes.

"Bakit mo naman hindi bibigyan ng pagasa eh kung mga one month lang ang kailangan para magpahinga at available na sila para sa national team," said Uichico. "I just hope lahat ng hindi nagpapakita sa tryouts have legitimate excuses."