MANILA, Philippines ? The Manila Police District is still clueless about the motive for the shooting Thursday night of Far Eastern University varsity player Mac Baracael in Sampaloc.

Baracael, 23, who plays forward for the FEU Tamaraws men?s basketball team, remains under observation, though reportedly in stable condition, at the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City.

The unknown assailant shot the varsity player at about 8:20 p.m. near the Philtrust Bank at the corner of Nicanor Reyes (Morayta) and R. Papa Streets.

?We?re looking at all angles to determine the motive for the shooting,? Supt. Ricardo Layug, chief of the MPD Station 4, told the Inquirer.

He said while they were waiting for Baracael to provide information, they were also interviewing potential witnesses.

Layug refused to speculate on the possibility that alleged game-fixing in the amateur league could be behind the shooting.

PO1 Sherwin Yumul said the victim was walking with fellow FEU players Ron Cabagnot and Robert Kave towards the school gym when the suspect suddenly appeared and shot Baracael twice.

Arnie Mineque, a vendor who witnessed the incident, told police that after the shooting, the suspect removed from his gun what appeared to be a silencer, put it in his backpack then casually walked toward España Street.

The witness described the suspect as about 5?1? in height, wearing a red shirt, short pants and rubber slippers.

The victim, who was hit in the back, was first rushed to Mary Chiles Hospital but was transferred later to the Capitol Medical Center.

Police recovered two empty .45 caliber shells at the crime scene.