Bates uupo na sa bench ng Patriots
MANILA, Philippines - Matapos sina Norman Black at seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Parks, si Billy Ray Bates naman ang makikita sa bench ng isang basketball team.
Kinuha na ang PBA Hall of Famer na si Bates ng AirAsia Philippine Patriots bilang skills coach bilang paghahanda sa 3rd ASEAN Basketball League na nakatakda sa Enero ng 2012.
“He’s a legend in the PBA so we believe he can share and teach whatever he knows to our players,” sabi ni co-team owner Mikee Romero, pangulo ng Harbour Centre kay Bates. “He was my idol during his first PBA stint, so I want to help him start a new career.”
Nagbalik ang 6-foot-4 na si Bates sa bansa para sa pagluluklok sa kanya sa PBA Hall of Fame sa pagbubukas ng 37th season ng professional league noong nakaraang Linggo sa Araneta Coliseum.
Nagparamdam ang 55-anyos na si Bates na gusto niyang makapag-coach sa bansa kagaya nina Black ng four-peat champions Ateneo Blue Eagles sa UAAP at Parks ng San Miguel Beermen sa ABL.
“Bates is a welcome addition to the team, his presence, I’m sure, will be a great source of inspiration to our young players,” wika ni co-team owner Tonyboy Cojuangco.
Ang tinaguriang ‘Black Superman’ ang naging sandata ng Crispa Redmanizers para makopo ang kanilang ikalawang Grand Slam title noong 1983 bago tulungan ang Anejo Rhum sa unang korona nito noong 1986 katulong si Michael Hackett.
Sinabi ni AirAsia Philippines Patriots team manager Eric Arejola na nilagdaan ni Bates ang kanyang kontrata noong Sabado.
“He was really happy to be part of the team and he’s now looking forward for the start of our training,” ani Arejola kay Bates.
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