With these strong words, Atty. Lucille Sering yesterday challenged the PBA commissioner to lift the indefinite suspension he imposed on the popular Ginebra cager for failing a recent drug test or, if and when it becomes unavoidable, face the consequences of being dragged into a long, costly court battle.
"We’re studying that option, but we don’t want to leak out whatever charges or cases we will file against them (Eala and the PBA itself). We’re looking at damages. For us the Sering, Limpot and Escudero, there’s so much at stake. Damages we can’t even say for how much," said Sering.
The young, feisty lawyer is the first cousin of Limpot and daughter of the late Jose Sering, the highly respected former president of the Philippine Olympic Committee. Limpot is married to a member of the rich and famous Escudero clan from San Pablo, Laguna.
"Definitely, if only my father were alive right now, he died as an amputee pero baka nakalakad ‘yon at puntahan si Eala. Masuwerte na din at wala na siya but he probably must be turning on his grave now because favorite niya si Jun. Siya ang nagdala kay Jun dito. Talagang inalagaan naming ‘yang si Jun," said Sering.
She said it’s up to Limpot, the former La Salle Green Archer, to decide whether or not a public apology from Eala or the PBA will be enough to compensate for all the losses and damages brought about to him and his family by the recent controversy.
"Basta ako, sigurado ako na hindi ako on drugs. Kahit saan kami mag-testing. Kahit sa Amerika. Kahit sa Iraq. Litong-lito na ako. Paranoid na ako. Una, hindi ako makatulog. Tapos noong huli, bibili lang ako ng gatas ng anak ko sa supermarket, dalawang oras bago ako makalabas. Ang daming nagtatanong: ‘Jun, anong nangyari?" he said.
Limpot also rued the fact that those conducting the test didn’t even ask him first if he was under medication (which he was at the time, for chronic back spasms).
The prescribed medicine he took could well explain his being positive for a substance called methamphetamine, said to be a component of shabu.
"Tapos I was informed na positive ako by coach Allan Caidic and not the PBA. When I received their letter, tapos na ang press conference ni commissioner Eala na inilabas na niya ang mga pangalan namin," said Limpot.
"We know that the commissioner was just trying to do his job. But the way he did it was with good intention but poor execution," said Sering, referring to the PBA’s anti-drug program that was implemented just a couple of months ago and so far has netted 10 offenders, including marquee players like Limpot.
Sering aired the challenge during the PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion also attended by Limpot, Davonn Harp of Red Bull and Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella who has initiated a House inquiry on the PBA drug menace. The inquiry is set to begin tomorrow.
Except for Torion of Red Bull and Alex Crisano of Ginebra, undergoing rehabilitation for alleged drug use, most of the players who failed the test have contested the results. They are citing possible flaws in its implementation, plus the absence of a PBA awareness campaign on which drugs may or may not be used by the players.
Limpot, along with Noli Locsin and Long David of Talk N Text, Harp, Ryan Bernardo of FedEx and Dorian Pena of San Miguel, tested positive for illegal substances last week. They have been given a chance to appeal under suspension and are being required to undergo a six-month rehabilitation before their cases are reevaluated.
Others who earlier failed the tests were Torion, Crisano and two more Talk N Text cagers — Norman Gonzales and Asi Taulava, who tested positive for marijuana use but was only suspended two games without suspension. Taulava is also one of the Fil-foreign cagers with a questionable Filipino lineage.
"We don’t want to preempt the commissioner on his decision regarding our appeal to be filed today or tomorrow. Pero huwag naman niya tagalan dahil kung aabot din ng six months di ganoon din," said Sering, who also stressed that his cousin won’t undergo the rehabilitation.
"What is there to rehabilitate? Besides, us agreeing to that would be like admitting that Jun is into drugs. He’s been being tested for 10 years now. In fact, I heard that Jimwell Torion wants out of the rehab because nga mas-madami daw siya natutunan doon because he was mixed with hard-core addicts. No rehab for Jun.
"He’s no longer concerned about his playing career but his reputation. He’s only 31 years old and after basketball he’ll go into business and deal with people. And if people would think that he’s an addict, sino pa ang magtitiwala sa kanya?" Sering added.
Harp, who came along with Red Bull team manager Tony Chua, also refuses to undergo rehabilitation and is right now trying to stay fit in anticipation of his reinstatement to the PBA. "I’m just keeping my fingers crossed and see how things would go. But it’s very disappointing…not only that I was found positive for drugs but the way it was announced. Hopefully I won’t have to go farther than that (court case)."