PBA Trades, Releases, Sign-ups, Rumors

[thugpinoy]

Please post here some latest news about PBA.. player movements, and some rumors or gossips..

[zupermann]

Eala just resigned!

[Dinamita]

TELAN to COCA COLA TIGERS?

AIR 21 4 picks in the first round? wow...

[borj_joss]

is this confirmed bro? what about rumors regarding san miguel trading dorian pena...

TELAN to COCA COLA TIGERS?

AIR 21 4 picks in the first round? wow...

[bolabasket]

[RayV]

Uh oh... now Air21 really needs to draft a big man... well, at least they got the 4th pick of Coke so they can decide which big man they're gonna pick but basing on their chances, they could probably get their hands on only either Bono or Quinahan...

[thugpinoy]

Uh oh... now Air21 really needs to draft a big man... well, at least they got the 4th pick of Coke so they can decide which big man they're gonna pick but basing on their chances, they could probably get their hands on only either Bono or Quinahan...

Maybe they will sign One Big Man from the Free Agent list?!?!?

[RayV]

^Is there any big man worth getting from the free agents list? A big man who is at least MORE useful than Ryan Bernardo?

[thugpinoy]

^Is there any big man worth getting from the free agents list? A big man who is at least MORE useful than Ryan Bernardo?

They've traded Mark Telan for 2009's First Round Draft, when they badly needed a Big Guy in the middle? they are probably thinking by that time comes, some talented young prospects are available, like Japeth Aguilar or that 6'11 Slaughter. or they are giving some space in their salary caps, signing a big contract on a expensive player

[warren99]

Rafi Reavis missing in action
Peoples Journal/Malaya
Brgy. Ginebra’s title-retention bid in the PBA Philippine Cup appears to have suffered another major blow.
Woes are piling up,but this doesn’t mean the crowd favorite would just lie down and die and forget its title-retention bid in the PBA Philippine Cup.
So said Kings coach Jong Uichico,who vowed his team will continue fighting until the end despite their manpower problems.
Already given up on the fate of forward Rudy Hatfield,the Gin Kings might lose another key frontline player in Rafi Reavis,who according to a reliable source, has not made known his whereabouts.
The lean but athletic 6-7 forward,a vital cog in Ginebra’s title romp last season,has not been heard from SMC management or even his manager two months before the 2007-2008 season kicks off on Oct. 14.
“Mukhang nag-alsa balutan na,(missing in action),” said the source, who requested anonymity. “He hasn’t told anyone close to him, including his manager, where he is and hasn’t informed SMC management of his present location and his plans on his career.”
The uncertainty of Reavis’s situation further added to the woes of Ginebra coach,who appears to have conceded the possibility that Hatfield will never return to play after getting married early this month.His status is certain he attended to a pressing personal problem concerning his fiancée.– he won’t return to play unless his problem is solved –Reavis has left Ginebra clueless. He went to the U.S. to undergo a shoulder operation.
“He went to the United States to undergo operation on his shoulder,I know okay na shoulder niya and he has undergone rehab.I also realize he needs more time to strengthen his shoulders. But there’s no definitive word whether he’ll be back,"said Uichico. “And I think he’s doing something also for his mother that’s why he left the country.” He spoke to Reavis days before the Philippine team left for Tokushima, Japan.
The Ginebra mentor,confirmed that Hatfield may no longer be able to join the team.
“Unless he can fix his personal problems,I don’t think he’s coming back to play,” said Uichico. “As for Rafi, kung sakali namang hindi siya bumalik, hindi naman kami ang mawawalan ng contract eh kundi siya.
”To try and overcome his manpower problems, Uichico has started whipping up practices since last week while sorting out what to do with Egay Echavez and Jec Chia, whose contracts expired last month.
"Ganyan naman ang Ginebra talaga. Habang dumadami ang problema lalong tumatapang, lalong lumalaban," he said.
SMB share of bad luck, too. Dorian Peña will be out for six months to repair a swollen tendon. His temporary absence will create a huge hole in the middle for the Beermen.
With Peña out, SMB will most likely exercise its option of choosing a big man in the coming draft, and pass up on the chance of grabbing high-flying forward JC Intal.
The Beermen who are expected to be coached by Chot Reyes for the coming season.

[warren99]

Will PBA salary be good enough for Joe?
Malaya
BY NOLI CORTEZ
HE HAS been given the green light to join the PBA Rookie Draft this Sunday and Joe De Vance has shown he has the skills and talent to make it big in the league.
But there’s this nagging question about the 6-foot-7 Fil-Am.
"Will he play? And for how long?" asked a PBA coach. "Mahirap kasing mag-gamble sa kanya dahil baka bigla na lang siyang umalis."
It is widely-known that De Vance dabbled as a real estate agent after leaving University of Texas and while sorting out his papers for the draft. Reportedly, he has been relatively good at it, making anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000 a month.
Those earnings, translated into pesos, far surpass the usual PBA pay scale for rookies of between P50,000 to P150,000 a month.
"Nariyan siguro ang passion niya sa basketball, main reason why almost two years niyang tri-nabaho ang citizenship papers niya," said the coach.
"Pero there’s this doubt, lalo na kapag hindi naging katulad nang inaasahan niya ang magiging PBA career niya."
De Vance, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on March 12, 1982, submitted his papers to the pro league last Aug. 5, making him eligible for the draft along with 46 others.
He is considered by most of the league’s tacticians as among the top prospects, a belief he enhanced with a show of shooting skills from all angles in the Rookie Camp at the Moro Lorenzo Gym.
"So far De Vance has impressed me a lot," said Talk N Text coach Derick Pumaren. "But of course I am not hoping na aabot pa kami para makuha siya. By the time we get our turn, nakuha na siguro siya."
Mike Holper was also set to sign a two-year contract extension with Ginebra yesterday.

[RayV]

They've traded Mark Telan for 2009's First Round Draft, when they badly needed a Big Guy in the middle? they are probably thinking by that time comes, some talented young prospects are available, like Japeth Aguilar or that 6'11 Slaughter. or they are giving some space in their salary caps, signing a big contract on a expensive player

2009?? I hope this would do them good... hmm, big men? who would be available by then? Jervy Cruz? Edwin Asoro? Rico Maierhoffer? or yeah, even Greg Slaughter?

They're gonna be minced meat inside this year... especially in rebounds since they were leading in PBA in terms of offensive rebounding...Well, I still don't know what Air21's gonna pick for 5th... I know what they're really looking for: a backup point guard, a quality big man to replace Telan and another athletic guard/forward... preferrably young ones (probably the main reason they traded Telan who is already 31 years old, I mean if Arboleda wasn't a part of Lito Alvarez' family he'd already be traded because of his age)

Homer Se now would probably be their starting center this conference unless they get a really good big man in the draft and Ranidel at PF...

[bolabasket]

The changing face of the Alaska Aces
By Reuel Vidal


THE Alaska Aces have an American owner. They have an American coach. Their general manager is a mestizo and most of their players are Fil-Ams. As far as the Philippine Basketball Association is concerned, the Aces have always been known as the team for the elite and not for the masses.

But after the release of Fil-Ams John Arigo, Ali Peek and Don Allado and the entry of popular local players like Willie Miller, John Ferriols, Reynel Hugnatan and others, the Aces have undergone a radical, but perhaps not entirely intended change.

The Aces now have a team that actually appeals to the masa.

“Ang mga dating players ng Alaska hindi maka masa,” said Miller. “Pero ngayon, pagdating ko, ni Rency [Bajar], ni John [Ferriols], at iba pa, marami na kaming mga ‘kanto boys.’ Wala nga kaming ginawa kundi maglokohan, mag-biruan.”

Miller said even coach Tim Cone admits the chemistry of the team improved with the new arrivals.

“Sabi nga ni coach [Tim], pagdating namin nila John, mas lalong naging strong ’yung bonding ng team,” said Miller. “Parating nagtatawanan sa labas. Kasi sanay kami sa kulitan. ’Yun nga lang, minsan pagdating sa dugout, nagkukulitan pa rin.”

Miller’s fans are mostly children and common folk and his wife Cate attests to this affinity.

“Even sa Olongapo, lahat ng tao kilala si Willie talaga,” said Cate. “Ang tawag niya sa mga kaibigan niya ‘kosa.’ Niloloko ko nga: ‘Bakit? Nakulong ka ba?’ Hindi siya tumatawag halimbawa sa mga waiters ng ‘waiter.’ Wala. Basta ang tawag niya sa lahat ‘kosa’ o kaya ‘pare.’”

Cate said Miller would never ignore anybody and talks to everybody. “Lahat kinakausap niya. Nagtitinda ng buko. Nagtitinda ng maruya. Binabati niya at kinakausap niya lahat.”

The fans of Miller and the new Alaska players have undoubtedly added to the old fans of the Fil-Ams already with the team.

“Yun ang nai-add ko sa kanila,” said Miller. “Dagdag ng mga kurimaw na mga fans. Pero hindi lang naman sa akin. Kasi nandiyan din si John [Ferriols]. Madaming fans na hatak. Maraming gays, maraming girls. Syempre si John, ‘papa’ ’yan. Tapos nakasama pa namin si Rency [Bajar], si Eddie [Laure], si Reynel [Hugnatan], na mga sikat na players sa MBA.”

And because they were so successful, Miller, like the Alaska fans, would like the team to stay together and win more championships.

“Galing na kami sa championship kaya mahirap maghiwalay pa,” said Miller. “Mas maganda kung kaya i-maintain ’yung team para i-prove sa iba na kaya pa rin mag-champion.”

There’s a saying it’s difficult to win a championship but it’s more difficult to repeat. Keeping the team intact will go a long way toward repeating as champions.

“Mas mahirap umulit,” said Miller. “Kaya mas maganda kung ’yung pareho pa rin ang lineup n’yo. Mas may chance na kayo. Kasi mas gamay n’yo na ’yung isa’t isa. Alam ko na ’yung sistema ni coach Tim. Tapos may tiwala sa akin si coach. ’Yun ang maganda.”

Everybody in the team would like to return, even aging veteran Dale Singson who came back from retirement to win his first PBA crown in his fourth PBA team—the Alaska Aces.

“Unang una, talagang malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa Itaas dahil ibinalik N’ya ko sa PBA,” said Singson. “Nakatikim din ako ng championship. Thankful din ako sa Alaska na kumuha sa akin. Ito ’yung una kong championship sa PBA. Last time mag champion ako sa UAAP pa with UST. Matagal ko na din hinintay ito.”

Without Singson, there would not have been a championship. He hit a crucial triple in the finals, which sent a lost game into overtime. The Aces won that game and eventually the title.

Almost a decade ago, Singson was the starting point guard of the Shell Turbo Chargers. After the team disbanded, he saw his minutes diminish with each PBA stop with San Miguel Beer, Coca-Cola and finally Alaska.

“Noong una, parating nag-aalala ako kung ano ang magiging role ko,” said Singson. “Kaya ’yun, hindi pa sanay. Gusto mo lagi maglaro. Pero natanggap ko nang ganoon lang ’yung role ko. Happy na nga ako dahil minsan nagagamit ako, kahit konti lang.”

Singson played out a contract, which expired last July 31. He isn’t sure if he will come back. He’s praying for the best, but is also prepared for the worst.

“Thirty-one na ako,” said Singson. “Hindi ko alam kung i-re-renew nila ako. Pero tanggap ko na kung ano ang mangyayari. Si Lord na ang bahala kung gusto pa Niya ako mag-stay sa PBA. Kung ano ang ibigay ni Lord, ’yun na lang. Kung bigyan ulit ako ng pagkakataon, okay lang. Kung hindi, okay lang, din.”

Miller and Singson. A Most Valuable Player and a benchwarmer. Both with expired contracts. But both willing and eager to come back and sign up with the team.

And why wouldn’t the Aces sign them up again? After all, they’re part of the new face of the Alaska Aces.

[RayV]

^They will still be with Alaska IMO, although Singson might get relegated to the injured reserves list with Alaska Aces getting two lottery picks and probably give more playing time to Aaron Aban...

[bolabasket]

Welcoat taps Belasco; TnT gets Aljamal
By Nelson Beltran
Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Welcoat continued its team rebuilding, hoping to turn its fortunes around in its second season in the pro league as it recruited reliable veteran forward Nic Belasco from Alaska Milk after picking Joe Devance and Ryan Arana from the Rookie Draft Sunday.

The Dragons, tail-enders on both the All-Filipino and Reinforced conferences last campaign, acquired the signing rights on Belasco in exchange for sophomore center-forward Junjun Cabatu. Belasco is a restricted free agent with his previous playing contract with Alaska expiring at the end of the 2006-07 season.

Meanwhile, Yousif Aljamal is headed for Talk n Text since the Piltel franchise and Air21, even before the draft, agreed on a trade deal involving the services of the San Beda do-it-all star.

Air21 selected Aljamal at No. 8 overall in Sunday’s draft. Talk n Text didn’t have a chance to tab the 6-foot-3 forward since the Phone Pals had given up their 2007 first round pick on a previous trade transaction.

Talk n Text team manager Frankie Lim, in a text message to The STAR, said they’re still working on what to offer in exchange for their acquisition of Aljamal.

Air21 coach Bo Perasol said the team is likely to keep their three other draftees in JC Intal, Doug Kramer and Marvin Cruz.

The three and another rookie hopeful RJ Masbang join the Express as they start their training today at the Xavier Gym in San Juan.

“With the entry of Intal, Kramer and Cruz, we now have nine players in our lineup. (Injured player) Gary David is our 10th man. We’ll look for two other players from the free agent pool,” said Perasol.

Draft aspirants not picked Sunday automatically joined the free agent pool. Among noted players not drafted were guards Khiel Misa, Reed Juntilla and Wynsjohn Te.

Over at Welcoat, more trades may happen in the next few days with the team looking forward to build a competitive lineup for the coming 33rd PBA season.

“For sure, we will improve with the addition of Devance. We’ll be more competitive than last season. But we may be hard-pressed for a championship,” said coach Leo Austria.

Welcoat co-owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que were upbeat in the composition of the team after getting Devance and Arana from the draft.

“Everybody was looking at Devance. But they seemed to overlook Arana. The guy’s a winner,” said Yu of the former La Salle mainstay.

Meanwhile, the PBA Commissioner’s Office has scheduled a pre-season tourney, also featuring a visiting team from South Korea, next month.

Alaska Milk is the defending champion in the pre-season tourney, serving as the appetizer to the coming season which opens Oct. 14 at the Araneta Coliseum.