Fil-Am bet Hrabak still unsighted

Fil-Am Michael Hrabak, who was drafted by Shell in the first round last Sunday, is turning out to be a real "Mystery Man."

Until yesterday, Shell team manager Bobby Villarosa said they are still at a loss on how and where to find Hrabak who reportedly planed in last Saturday from the US along with his agent Rey Yncierto, a former PBA player.

"When we drafted him, we knew it was a gamble and it’s turning out to be such because we don’t even know where he is right now. All we know is that he’s here in Manila. Hinahanap pa namin siya at hindi namin siya tinatago," said Villarosa yesterday.

Atty. Baldomero Estenzo, who represented Hrabak in obtaining his confirmation from the Department of Justice, was contacted by Shell officials yesterday in Cebu but said he also didn’t know Hrabak’s whereabouts. Villarosa also called up the player’s residence in the US yesterday morning but got the same answer.

"We drafted him because we really needed a big guy to back up Benjie Paras this year. But as of now, we’re still trying to contact him... much more locate him. I don’t really know what his plans are," added the Shell team manager.

Villarosa, in a telephone interview, however, said they would still tender a contract for Hrabak before the PBA for the Turbo Chargers to earn the right of first refusal on the 6-foot-6 cager, who played for three years at Peoria High School in Arizona, and two years at Central Arizona College. By gaining the right of first refusal, Shell can only lose Hrabak through a trade.

The 10 PBA teams that drafted a total of 48 players last Sunday have until Friday to tender contracts with their players. Otherwise, the draftees become unrestricted rookie free agents, meaning they can contract or negotiate with any other team interested in their service for the PBA’s 2001 season.

Sources said Hrabak, immediately after arriving in Manila, got in touch with Ginebra San Miguel, leading to speculations that he intentionally did not attend that draft at the Glorietta where he was picked second by Shell in the first round. Ginebra picked third in the first round, getting another Fil-Am in Mark Caguioa.

No official contracts were forwarded to the PBA office regarding the 48 draftees as of yesterday afternoon. A total of 57 players joined this year’s draft, the biggest in a long while.

Meanwhile, embattled Tanduay player Eric Menk yesterday met with Commissioner Jun Bernardino and solicited the latter’s advice on his much-awaited return to action since being banned last July 23 for failing to acquire his Fil-Am confirmation from the DOJ.

Menk, a vital cog in the Tanduay roster, is in the process of completing his papers being handled by his personal lawyer Peewee Agcaoili. Menk was banned to play in the PBA after the DOJ found out that his mother, Samar-born Lilia Ramasasa Padua, had been naturalized two years before giving birth to Eric in Michigan.

"I’m really hoping that I can play this conference (The All-Filipino)," said Menk, who said he was upset by ouster of Alfrancis Chua as Tanduay coach, and the trading of fellow Fil-Am Rudy Hatfield. "But I’m just a player and I don’t run the team."

Menk has until the end of the All-Filipino eliminations to get his confirmation from the DOJ because once the quarterfinal playoffs begin, teams are no longer allowed to change their lineups until the close of the finals. If he gets his DOJ approval later that the eliminations, then he can only play at the start of the Commissioner’s Cup.