PBA Media Bureau Denzel Bowles’ former Star Hotshots teammates expressed sadness over TNT KaTropa’s sacking of the ex-Best Import who was given a pink slip before the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup due to an alleged attitude problem. Marc Pingris and Mark Barroca, members of the San Mig Coffee squad that won the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup with Bowles, admitted that they were both surprised about the news surrounding their ex-reinforcement. “Nakakalungkot lang yung sinabi nila na may attitude problem daw. Kasi hindi siya ganun sa amin dati, hindi ako naniniwala na ganun eh. Pero yun ang sabi ni Ranidel (De Ocampo). Mas matagal ko nakasama si Ranidel. Ang hirap eh,” Pingris said. “Excited na sana kami na makalaban siya nung tune-up (last week), tapos nangyari yun. Pinauwi daw. Na-surprise kami, pati yung import namin na-surprise rin,” Star guard Mark Barroca said. Before being signed by TNT, Bowles wasn’t shy about blasting his former team on social media, even declaring that he will never play again for Star after the squad didn’t hire him back last year following a leave of absence. That, of course, didn’t sit well with some Star fans, and Pingris suggested that Bowles might have taken the criticisms too personally. “Siguro nga, may mental baggage siya. Kasi parang pumapatol siya sa mga fans eh. Ako never ako nagmura ng fans kahit na anong galit ko. Kahit na anong paninira nila sa akin. Never akong nagmura ng fans. So, syempre, yung mga fans na yan sila bumubuhay sa atin eh. Kailangan huwag na huwag mong gagawin sa fans yun,” Pingris said. TNT coach Nash Racela earlier said the reason behind Bowles’ departure was “he had to attend to some personal matters in the US.” But KaTropa, who is still finding a replacement, already shut the door on Bowles. “Hopefully, he (Bowles) would still be given an opportunity to play somewhere, but not with our team,” Racela said. http://j.mp/2nC7QUB
