Barangay Ginebra is still looking for a big man to take care of the middle but team manager Casiano (Jun) Cabalan says it won't deter the squad from making inroads in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) this season.
"We'll be competitive," promises Cabalan. "We hope to be at least a semifinal contender. We've been practicing hard and the guys are in high spirits."
In a blockbuster trade last week, Ginebra acquired the rights to Jun Limpot from Sta. Lucia Realty in exchange for the rights to Marlou Aquino. Ginebra also dealt Benny Cheng to the Realtors for Banjo Calpito in a separate swap and picked up Ronald Magtulis from Iloilo in the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA).
Cabalan says there remain a few kinks to iron out before signing up Limpot. He expects Limpot to start practicing next week once his contract is finalized. Calpito, however, has begun working out with the Gins and seems to be comfortable playing either No. 4 or No. 5.
Cabalan adds that swingman Elmer Lago's contract, expiring this year, has been renegotiated up to 2001 and Wilmer Ong was inked to a fresh 3-year renewal. Defensive specialist Yves Dignadice, whose contract had expired, was signed to a 1-year deal.
Shell's Chris Jackson is in Ginebra's wish list, admits Cabalan. But it's not sure if Jackson will jump in. "We've talked to Chris," discloses Cabalan. "At least, two other teams, we understand, have talked to him. The offers are the same so it's really Chris' choice. He likes Shell because of Benjie (Paras) and Gerry (Esplana) but he also likes Ginebra because of the management. If we get Chris to team up with Jun then we pick up a legitimate center maybe next year, we'll be in good shape."
The Jackson situation will be resolved before the week ends.
Regarding Ginebra's choice of a direct-hire Fil-foreigner, Cabalan says the team picked Fil-Peruvian George (Poncho) Duenas Guiria who played at St. Peter's College in Jersey City, Meridian Community College in Mississippi, and the University of Southern Mississippi. The direct-hire privilege expired last year and Ginebra beat the deadline by naming Guiria.
But Guiria's Certificate of Recognition is still being processed at the Bureau of Immigration. "His papers have been submitted," says Cabalan. "His father, who is a Filipino living in Canada, offered to come here just to prove Poncho's eligibility. We told Poncho to wait for our call. We'll bring him in as soon as his Certificate is issued."
Allan Caidic will be the Gins' full-time coach this campaign. He opted to retire from playing after Red Bull picked him in the recent expansion draft. Assistant coach Rino Salazar, who's in Alaska with his family, will be back this weekend.
Cabalan says the holdovers, particularly Vergel Meneses and Bal David, are eager to get back to action.
I bumped into Meneses before Christmas and he said Ginebra's the kind of team he's long been looking for. "Happy ako sa Ginebra," Meneses beamed. "Bago lang ako sa team, parang matagal ko ng kasama yung management. Bilib ako sa management--magandang makisama. Isang salita lang--magaling mag-motivate."
Things seem to be looking up for never-say-die Ginebra.
Postscript. Nike Sports Marketing Manager Auty Villarama called the other day to share some good news. He said two prestigious publications cited Nike in year-end recognitions. Popular Mechanics gave the Nike Air Gauntlet running shoe its 1999 Design and Engineering Award. The magazine said the Air Gauntlet "sets a new standard in fit." It features a V notch that allows the shoe to move with the foot, a fit clip, a seamless inner construction and a memory foam that enables the runner to customize the heel fit. Business Week named the Nike Air Zoom M9 soccer shoe one of the Best Products of 1999. The M9 was developed with insights from US World Cupper Mia Hamm who wear-tested the shoe for nine months. It features a synthetic, lightweight, durable and wet-resistant upper and a thin layer of polyurethane for ball feel and enhanced touch. Additionally, Villarama said the Nike Triax 300 sport watch won the Design of the Decade award from the Industrial Design Society of America to complete a rare grand slam for the world's leading sports and fitness company . . . So far, only 12 of 25 winners in our "Greatest Filipino Athlete of the 20th Century" essay-writing contest have claimed their prizes. Provincial winners must designate their representatives to personally pick up their prizes which include Skechers calendars, T-shirts from Nike, Converse, No Fear, San Miguel Beer, Ginebra, Alaska, Shell, and the PBA, umbrellas, Mikasa basketballs and gift certificates from Vintage, basketballs from Shell and Alaska, caps from Shell, San Miguel Beer and Ginebra, collectible car models from Shell, canned goods from RFM, PBA and NBA yearbooks, and more. Winners whose prizes are still unclaimed are Ronila Sabana of Agusan del Sur, Jose Antonio Gomez of Bacolod, Rowena Joyce Almero of Zambales, L.P. Garcia of Filinvest, Edgardo Buenvenida of Batangas, Serge Solidum of Batangas, Ferdinand Alayon of Pandacan, Alex Cabangian of Dipolog City, Hector Salazar of Ormoc, Rosalina Olan of Lipa City, Fernando Lacuata of La Union, Hubert Monge of Mandaluyong, and Melchor Cichon of Iloilo. Prizes unclaimed up to Jan. 31 will be forfeited. Call Babes at tel. 527-6007 for details on claiming procedures.