Manliguis Leaves Valley Basketball Team

Joey Manliguis, the starting point guard for the Valley College men’s basketball team, has left school and will not compete again this season for the Monarchs, Valley Coach Jim Stephens said Thursday.

Manliguis, who scored 21 points in Valley’s 90-74 Western State Conference loss to Ventura on Saturday, ranked fourth in the state in assists, averaging 7.6 a game. He also averaged 15 points a game. Stephens said Manliguis had attendance problems that led to failing grades in classes.

Manliguis, a freshman out of Cleveland High, could not be reached for comment.

Valley (17-10 overall, 7-3 in conference play) will play host to Santa Monica, ranked No. 1 in the state by the J.C. Athletic Bureau, at 7 p.m. Saturday.