Handa ang Tanduay kahit wala si Menk

Magkahalong emosyon ang naramdaman ni Derrick Pumaren matapos ang kanilang pagkakasibak.

Lalo na sa isa.

"One good things is what we were able to practice together as a team although we would have preferred playing rather than vacationing," ani Pumaren, ang head coach ng Tanduay sa isang telephone interview kahapon. " We have developed bonding in the team and that is a great component to success."

"But we were laid off for quite a while, and I’m sure you can understand how pumped up we are to play right now. We are actually aching to step on the floor again and see action."

Isa sa mga dahilan ng excitement ni Pumaren ay ang hindi niya nakikita sa practice sa matagal na panahon.

"We are moving better as a unit because the players have finally gotten to know each other, unlike in the All-Filipino when we barely had time to prepare. We really didn’t even know who the players were until late in the off-season."

"This time it is going to be different, without Eric Menk, I can honestly say that we are ready for the grind ahead," dagdag pa ni Pumaren."Of course, If Eric does come back, we’ll be an altogether different team," wika pa ni Pu-maren.

Sa ngayon mahigpit ang ginaga-wang preparasyon ng Tanduay para paghan-daan ang pagbubukas ng Commissioners Cup upang sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay mabigyan na rin ni Pumaren ang Rhum masters ng korona.

At maisasakatuparan ng Rhummasters ang kanilang misyon sa katauhan ng mahusay na import na si Kevin Freeman.

"Kevin (Freeman) is okay, he has so far been a perfect fit for the team. He can score if he wants to, that I know, and the energy he has on the floor is rubbing off on his teammates, and that is good for the team."

Si Freeman ay naglaro sa Los Angeles Stars sa isang minor professional league sa Amerika at sa kabila ng pagka-karoon ng malaking karanasan ng 6-foot-7, siya ang napisil ni Pumaren kumpara sa kanilang original choice na si Ceedric Goodwyn matapos ang dalawang linggong tryouts.

Bagamat wala si Menk, nandidiyan naman sa Rhummasters sina Bong Hawkins at Noli Locsin upang punan ang shaded lane at ang eksplosibong rotation ng mga guards na sina Dindo Pumaren, Jeffrey Cariaso at Dondon Hontiveros.