Rhum Masters rarin’ to go after layoff

Derick Pumaren has mixed feelings about layoffs.

Specially long ones.

"One good thing is that we were able to practice together as a team although we would have preferred playing rather than vacationing," Pumaren, the Tanduay head coach, said in a telephone interview yesterday. "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."

Part of Pumaren’s eagerness could have been triggered by what he has so far seen in practice. He’s been out of competitive play for a month now, so he surely has seen a lot.

"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, with or without Eric Menk. I can honestly say that we are ready for the grind ahead," Pumaren added. "Of course, if Eric does come back, we’ll be an altogether different team."

Tanduay has been preparing for the Commissioner’s Cup at full speed, as Pumaren knew that he had a lot of ground to cover since assuming head coaching job at the start of the year.

And the Rhum Masters are leaving no stones unturned, so to speak, bringing in a hot name in the imports’ market in the person of Kevin Freeman to do the job and put Pumaren’s personal quest for a first title since 1995 in high gear.

"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."

Freeman played with the Los Angeles Stars in a minor professional league back in the United States, and despite not having big-time experience, this 6-foot-7 leaper comes high in Pumaren’s wish list, more so after he got rid of original choice Ceedric Goodwyn after two long weeks of tryouts.

Together with Sta. Lucia, Pumaren and the Rhum Masters also got the boot in the All-Filipino eventually won by San Miguel over sister team Barangay Ginebra, and Pumaren concedes that the Beermen are still the team to beat, though the way he sounded over the phone won’t give anyone the impression that he is not ready for war.

Even without Menk, the Rhum Masters still have Bong Hawkins and Noli Locsin to tend the shaded lane and an explosive rotation of guards comprised of Dindo Pumaren, Jeffrey Cariaso and Dondon Hontiveros.

Surely, Tanduay is just one dominating big man away from becoming a legitimate title threat again, a billing it enjoyed with Menk around and a billing which Pumaren believes he can grab back with Freeman there.