“WE SEEM to be losing players left and right,” Coach Norman Black said in a post-game interview, following the Blue Eagles’ championship victory against San Beda in the FilOil Flying V Premier Cup last June 12.

Along with Art de le Cruz and Ryan Buenafe, who Black confirmed would not be suiting up for the Blue Eagles in the upcoming UAAP Season 74, the Blue and White’s newest recruit from Cebu recently ended his short stint in Loyola Heights.

The Ateneo mentor said, “Mark Tallo decided to go back to Cebu and wants to attend another school, so he won’t be joining us this year.”

Tallo, who began practicing with Team Ateneo in April, saw meager playing time in both the Fr. Martin’s Cup and the FilOil preseason tournaments, but joined the team in its annual two-week training camp at the Joe Abunassar Impact Basketball Center in Las Vegas.

It seems as though the process was just too long, and the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. MVP could not adjust to the Ateneo’s basketball system—he wanted instant playing time.

There are reports that other collegiate teams, from both the UAAP and the NCAA, are gunning for the young point guard. Among the schools that are reportedly intent on recruiting Tallo are the University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, Arellano University and San Beda, among others.

With the Cebuano’s departure, yet another spot has opened up in the Blue Eagles’ line-up. Nevertheless, Coach Norman assures that the Blue Eagles will still be competitive.

According to Black, “We have enough [players] to be competitive this year and we’ll continue recruiting.”

“It’s part of the game: you get out there and recruit, get new players and try to reinforce the team for the future. For this year, I think we’re pretty solid; the rotation’s pretty solid,” he said. “Maybe the 15th, 16th man hasn’t been decided, but we’ll have that done within the week.”