Mark Nonoy and Deo Cuajao bid farewell to the University of Santo Tomas men’s basketball team as they head to De La Salle.
In a social media post, both Nonoy and Cuajao thanked the school for giving them the opportunity to represent the university.
Sources confirmed Nonoy and Cuajao are finalizing their transfer from España to Taft Monday.
The duo also thanked former UST coach Aldin Ayo and his coaching staff, who resigned in the middle of the Sorsogon training bubble controversy.
“I’m very thankful sa lahat ng coaching staff lalong-lalo na po sa kay Aldin Ayo na nagtiwalang kumuha sa’kin mula sa province to Manila at nagbigay sa’kin ng kumpiyansa pagdating sa court at sa pag-guide niya sa akin kahit off the court upang maging mabuting tao,” Nonoy wrote on his Instagram post.
“Ang dami kong natutunan sa kanila at minolde nila ang aking pagkatao,” Cuajao wrote.
Nonoy and Cuajao admitted it wasn’t an easy decision to leave the team, but they had to in order to focus on their basketball careers.
“Napakabigat man para sa loob ko, kinakailangan ko ng katiyakan sa aking career para makapag-focus ulit sa basketball. Dahil ilang weeks na akong binabagabag ng kung ano ang kahihinatnan ng ating team,” Nonoy wrote.
“Kinakailangan ko na talagang magdisisyon at maghanap ng katiyakan para sa career ko dahil dito ko binubuo ang pangarap ko para sa pamilya ko,” Cuajao wrote.
Despite these, the two players hope the UST Tigers will rise to the challenge.
Five other players have already left the squad in the middle of the controversy that include CJ Cansino, Brent Paraiso, Rhenz Abando, Ira Bataller, Jun Asuncion.
Cansino transferred to University of the Philippines; Bataller, Paraiso and Abando left for Letran; and Asuncion moved to Mapua.
“Hanggang sa huli, umaasa akong magkakaron ng linaw at maayus na patutunguhan ang team despite sa lahat ng pinagdaraanan namin,” Cuajao wrote.