MANILA, Philippines – Mapua Institute of Technology will face an uphill climb in the NCAA Season 93 men's basketball tournament after Coach Atoy Co confirmed that both Allwell Oraeme and Darell Menina will not be playing for the Cardinals this year.

Co earlier declared that Oraeme was on his way out of Mapua, and assumed that the reigning two-time NCAA MVP was being courted by other schools.

After the Cardinals' 49-64 loss to De La Salle-College of St. Benilde in the 2017 FilOil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup, however, Co clarified that Oraeme will not be transferring. Rather, he will sit out the entire Season 93 campaign as he tries to deal with some personal issues.

"Si Oraeme, medyo down. May problema ata sa pamilya," said Co. "Nakikiusap kung hindi muna siya maglalaro this year. Pero magpapatuloy ng pag-aaral sa Mapua."

[Oraeme is feeling down because I think he has some family problems. He asked not to play this year, but he'll still be studying in Mapua.]

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Co added that he had cleared the air with Oraeme, as the player insisted to the coach that he was not being poached by other schools.

"Siya ang nagsabi na walang kumukuha sa kanya. 'Di lang siya motivated this year to play, kasi may family problem, which hindi ko na tinanong. Nag-usap na kami ng president ng Mapua, pinapa-comment ako, ano daw gagawin ko," he added.

[He told me that no one was poaching him. He's just not motivated to play because of his family problem, though I didn't ask for specifics. I already talked to the Mapua president about it.]

"I think I'm going to gamble on that. I still give him a scholarship. Hawak ko ang papeles [I have his papers], so he cannot enroll in another school," he added.

Thus, Oraeme will still continue to study in Mapua, and Co will give him "a little allowance" as well as board and lodging. However, the Nigerian center will also have to train at least three times a day, in order to stay in shape.

Meanwhile, Menina, a sweet-shooting combo guard, is similarly sitting out Season 93 due to family problemas.

"Nagkaroon ng family problem, kaya nagpaalam muna. Pero part pa siya ng team," Co said. "Next year, he'll be back."

[He had some family problems, so he asked for permission not to play. He's still part of the team.]

Co fully acknowledged that Mapua will be hard-pressed to match their achievement in Seasons 91 and 92, when the Cardinals advanced to the Final 4. Nevertheless, he still wants his players to compete at a high level, and work as a team.

"'Yung mga veterans ko, they're taking (the game) in their own hands," he said. "Sabi ko, hindi pwedeng mangyari. We have to play, still, as a team. Hindi pwedeng isa kontra sa apat or kontra sa tatlo."

[My veterans are taking the game in their own hands, and I told them that cannot happen. We have to play as a team, and not one vs. four or one vs. three.]

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