Hrabak a big loss to RP pool — Uichico

Mike Hrabak could have been a top candidate for a spot in the two national candidate squads set to see action in the 2002 PBA opening conference if Shell agreed to release him for the tryouts, according to interim national coach Jong Uichico.

"In my opinion, he’s a potential material at two-guard spot. Maganda sana ang chance niya to make it to the national pool dahil malaking shooter, but he was not released by Shell," said Uichico.

Up to Tuesday night, Uichico said they made an effort to help Hrabak get released by his mother team to the tryouts for the national team but to no avail.

Shell officials had said their understanding is that Hrabak has already been named to the national pool by coach Ron Jacobs, thus they’re questioning why they still need to release their Fil-Am forward now. Team manager Bobby Villarosa said: "If they want to name him to the national pool, name him. But we’ll not release him."

Before coach Ron Jacobs fell ill, the American coach, as required by the PBA board of governors, named 17 PBA players to the pool last Dec. 22. They are San Miguel’s Danny Ildefonso and Danny Seigle, Purefoods’ Andy Seigle and Noy Castillo, Talk ’N Text’s Asi Taulava and Don Camaso, Alaska’s Kenneth Duremdes and Ali Peek, Sta. Lucia’s Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino, Red Bull’s Davonn Harp and Mick Pennisi, Ginebra’s Eric Menk, FedEx’s Jeffrey Cariaso, Shell’s Chris Jackson and Pop Cola’s Rudy Hatfield and Poch Juinio.

Hrabak’s name wasn’t included in the list since he failed to attend the initial stage of the tryouts last December because of a varicose vein injury.

"I talked to him last December, sabi ko bibigyan ko pa rin siya ng chance to join the national pool but I need to take a closer look of his game. Kaya we’re welcoming him to join the (final state of the) tryouts provided he’s voluntarily released by his mother team," said Uichico.

Incidentally, six other PBA players were invited.