MANILA, 1 February — It’s kiss and makeup for Philippine team head coach Jong Uichico and disgruntled wards Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino.

After heart-to-heart talks brokered by Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner Jun Bernardino, the three prominent figures in the national training pool settled their differences as true professionals and immediately buckled down to serious business.

So Uichico’s "prodigal sons" are back, huh?

Aquino and Espino, Sta. Lucia Realty’s Twin Towers, arrived in the morning earlier than usual at the training camp at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center.

Uichico gave the two veteran internationalists a bear-hug and, as we love to say, the rest is history.

All’s well that ends well. And they’re back in each other’s arms.

Aquino and bosom buddy Espino declared they were ready to move on after an incident that nearly drove the two to bolt the candidates’ pool last week.

The 39-year-old Uichico, for his part, said he’s putting the incident behind him, too.

Thanks to Bernardino who stepped in and ironed out an issue that has triggered the absence of two big men, the well-publicized row the three figured in was patched up just in time to put the country’s preparation for the Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea, back in motion.

Bernardino ordered the feuding parties to sit down and resolve the brewing "war".

After the hearty talks, with Bernardino as the "middle man", the three shook hands warmly like true gentlemen, and agreed to bury the hatchet.

Indeed, the consensus among Uichico and his two disenchanted players was to put their misunderstanding behind them.

"We have put the problem behind us, and everybody is now looking forward to have good practice and good training," said Uichico, who took over the coaching job from Ron Jacobs after the American suffered a stroke last month.

"Surely, once in a while, we will encounter some problems," he said sounding more optimistic, "but hopefully, we will be able to solve it through dialogue."

"It was just a misunderstanding. It happens when you deal with a lot of players you don’t know," Uichico said. "Marlou and I don’t know each other well yet. My players at San Miguel knows that I’m easy to talk with. I may have some shortcomings but it’s not personal."

He admitted he will have to know his players better.

"I know I will be encountering a lot of challenges in this job. So as early as possible, we have to find a solution. You can call this my baptism of fire," he said.

The national training pool nearly lost the services of the two considered to be among the most qualified members to the soon-to-be-formed Philippine team to the Pusan Games when they offered voluntarily to quit from the candidates pool.

Aquino and Espino missed a combined five days of practice due to a rift between the 6-foot-9 Aquino and Uichico.

The spat, triggered by an emotional talk on nationalism delivered by Uichico after Aquino complained about allowances for members of the candidates pool who must attend regular practice.

Uichico was explaining fines that will be slapped on players who will be late for practice, and Aquino reportedly asked where the players would get the money to pay the fines.

The training pool is not subsidized and everybody is trying out without a fee.

Uichico then gave a brief speech about nationalism and the need to make a commitment for the country.

"There was just a misunderstanding and I think Marlou felt slighted with the words I said and how I said it and I understand him," he explained.

Several players, however, said they overheard Aquino asking about an allowance the day before the exchange and that may have provoked Uichico to deliver his little speech about nationalism.

Aquino, a two-time Asian Games veteran, was apparently hurt and the slotman subsequently snubbed the next three practices.

It also prompted Espino to boycott the team’s last two practice sessions as, obviously, his way of sympathizing with his Sta. Lucia teammate whom he regards more as a friend.

The two Sta. Lucia superstars had even asked the PBA Commissioner’s Office that they be dropped from the national pool.

Bernardino, though, was quick to put his foot down on the issue, saying it was too late for anybody at this time to withdraw from the national training team.

In the first place, Bernardino said, Aquino and Espino should have voiced their sentiments the moment they were drafted to join the candidates pool.

"Since they did not object at that time, it only means they agree to cease from being Sta. Lucia players and be under the supervision of the Commissioner’ Office," Bernardino explained.

In fact, Sta. Lucia manager Buddy Encarnado had told them they cannot rejoin the team and advised them to return to the training pool and honor their obligation to the flag and country.

A previous agreement entered into between the PBA and member teams requires that candidates to the national pool cannot be released to their mother teams until after the first conference.

Bernardino had also said he’ll be forced to sanction Aquino and Espino if they refuse to return to the pool.

Aquino declined to talk about the incident.

"We have already ironed things out, so let’s not talk about it. It’s already a thing of the past," he pleaded to inquiring journalists.

Espino, the Realtor’s skipper, said: "Actually, I have no problem with coach Jong. It was only Marlou. After the Asian Games, we will all go back to our mother teams. It means Jong will no longer be our coach but Marlou and I will be together on the same boat and I don’t want to strain our relationship. But everything is well now between us and Jong."

Uichico stressed he has nothing personal against anybody in the pool.

"Before I took the job, that’s exactly what I told them. When we come here, we should leave behind our personal interest. This is not for ourselves, for our respective teams but for the country," said Uichico.

That hopefully got the national pool through its first major crisis since being formed at the start of the year, although more challenges are expected along the way in its bid to win back for the country the basketball gold and end its long 40-year title drought in the Asian Games.

After consummating the peace talks, the war among the aspirants to the national team begins.

Early in the morning, Uichico had peace talks with Aquino and Espino.

The two players returned to the tryouts later, and sweat it out like their lives depended on it. As if to show that they mean well, they played with a lot of energy and intensity during the three-hour workout.

"All is well," said Uichico, who was glad Espino and Aquino came in "and had one of their best performances in the tryouts so far."

At noontime, Uichico spoke war talk as he finally split the 30-man pool to the two teams which will see action in the season-opening PBA Governors Cup starting on Feb. 10.

He halved the formidable Aquino-Espino partnership, putting them in the different candidates pools.

Espino will banner Philippine Team A together with Eric Menk, Kenneth Duremdes, Asi Taulava, Olsen Racela, Chris Jackson, Patrick Fran, Dondon Hontiveros, Chris Calaguio, Rafi Reavis, Ali Peek, Poch Junio, Jimmy Alapag, Chris Clay and Jeffrey Flowers.

Joining Aquino in Philippine Team B are Johnny Abarrientos, Boyet Fernandez, Danny Seigle, Noy Castillo, Renren Ritualo, Jeffrey Cariaso, Don Camaso, Rudy Hatfield, Danny Ildefonso, Mick Pennisi, Andy Seigle, Davonn Harp, EJ Feihl and Romel Adducul.

Just weeks since assuming the coaching job of the national team, Uichico is starting to feel the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders as a rash of injuries and controversy hounded the team’s preparation.

As mounting injuries to members of the 30-man pool forced Uichico to cancel an scheduled practice, he also had to deal first with that controversy spawned by a misunderstanding with Aquino.

But with Aquino and Espino back to the training camp, Uichico has now 24 full-bodied men at his disposal.

The multi-titled San Miguel bench tactician said he took into consideration the injuries and availability of the players when he formed the two squads.

Uichico included Adducul in the roster although he has been skipping the training ñ for fourth straight day ñ because of a problem with the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA). Uichico said the cager’s agent Ed Ponceja had informed assistant coach Allan Caidic that Adducul might not be able to attend the tryouts.

"But we’re not giving up yet and are still hoping that Romel can join the tryouts," Uichico said.

Talks with the MBA are still going on to allow Adducul to join the national team practices. Bernardino said he’s still clearing Adducul’s status with newly-appointed MBA commissioner Chito Loyzaga, who promised to sit down with Adducul and officials of his mother team Batangas.

Bernardino said that since Adducul doesn’t belong to the PBA, he will need a release from his team to be able to join the tryouts.

Fil-foreigners Clay, Flowers and Alapag religiously attend the workout although they’re still awaiting the confirmation of the Department of Justice on their Filipino citizenship. They may not be able to play in the conference until they get their citizenship clearances from the Department of Justice.

"It would be a waste of time and efforts if they (Clay, Flowers and Alapag) eat up the minutes of the other guys and are not able to play if drafted into the national team," Uichico said. "I’m giving them until next week to secure their Department of Justice confirmation documents. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to sit them out to give more playing time to the other aspirants."

The three also applied for the PBA rookie draft but were not allowed to participate after they failed to get their clearances before the league-imposed deadline.

Bernardino echoed Uichico’s hopes for Clay, Flowers and Alapag to settle the soonest possible time their citizenship problems, otherwise they may have to drop out of the candidates pool.

"But that’s not final yet. I still have to re-discuss the issue with coach Jong," said Bernardino, adding the PBA Commissioner’s Office will try to help the three facilitate their documents.

While the stints of Clay, Flowers, Alapag and Adducul remain doubtful, there are those who are not going to suit up immediately due to injuries.

Duremdes (left leg) and Peek (knee) are both hurting, while Ildefonso (bone spurs), Abarrientos (knee) and Castillo (foot) are also expected to miss a few games due to injuries.

Duremdes, Abarrientos, Peek and Ildefonso are still undergoing therapy treatment on their injuries, while Castillo is still recovering from a recent surgery on his toe in the US.

"Balance is what we really considered when we formed the two teams. We had some other things in mind but because of the injuries and those who might not play, we decided to group the players that way," Uichico said.

Uichico plans to hold twice-a-day practice: Team A in the morning and Team B in the afternoon. He has tapped the services of Eric Altamirano of Purefoods and Barangay Ginebra’s Caidic as his assistant coaches.

"That way, we can be more specific and could handle the players more personally," said Uichico, who also said he’s now contemplating on handling both teams in the Governors Cup, which incidentally is to be sponsored by Samsung.

His initial idea is to let Caidic hold the rein in one team and Altamirano the other while he supervises from the sidelines.

"I think it would be better if I handle the teams so I can have a better feel of the team and see better how the players respond to game situations," said Uichico.

Meanwhile, the two teams will be carrying corporate banners.

The RFM Group of Companies, which pledged to support one team in the training pool under the name of Selecta, has already paid a 15-million pesos sponsorship fee with the PBA and has the right to choose first between the two teams which will carry the company’s colors.

The company has earlier announced that it will pick the team with players identified with their former franchise in the pro league, which was recently sold to Coca-Cola.

So most likely, it will bankroll Team A as the squad has three of its former and current players in Duremdes, Peek, Juinio and Hatfield. Among the former RFM players in Philippine Team A are Duremdes, Peek, Juinio and Hatfield.

Hapee Toothpaste is sponsoring the other candidate team. Hapee signed a 9-million pesos sponsorship agreement with the league.

Bernardino said Cecilio Pedro, owner of Lamoiyan Corp., agreed to the sponsorship deal, initially worth some 9 million pesos, but could reach as much as 15 million pesos if the team makes it all the way to the finals.