Airfreight intends to retain Pumaren

In all probability, Airfreight 2001 Inc. will retain the services of coach Derick Pumaren while Talk N Text is likely to experiment with a foreign coach in a serious bid to win a championship in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Airfreight president Lito Alvarez was quoted as saying by a Star source that they have no plan to look for a new coach as they intend to let Pumaren finish the final of the three-year contract he got from Tanduay.

Airfreight officials apparently are being practical, knowing they have to shell out a fortune if they choose to leave Pumaren out and tap a new coach to handle the Airfreight team which will make its initial campaign in the PBA next year. The Star source said Airfreight officials will study their options after the 2002 season.

The sole distributor of Federal Express in the country, Airfreight is buying the Tanduay ballclub for P75 million. Airfreight or FedEx bankrolls the Laguna Blades in the MBA with Boni Garcia as their chief tactician.

Meanwhile, the Talk N Text Phone Pals are still in search of a coach with only a few weeks before the opening of the 28th PBA season.

Talk N Text team manager Frankie Lim said team owner Manny Pangilinan is keeping his options open, including the possibility of hiring a foreign coach in a determined bid to win the elusive championship in the league.

Lim and fellow Piltel top official Ricky Vargas have just returned from a weeklong trip to the United States to scout for a qualified coach to replace Louie Alas.

Lim said among the names they suggested to Pangilinan are Duane Ticknor from Sioux Falls, JT Prada from Portland and Rle Nichols from San Diego – all minor leaguers coaching in the IBA, CBA and ABA.

Lim, however, didn’t discount the possibility of Pangilinan opting to sign up a local talent in the end. Chot Reyes, Franz Pumaren and Alfranchis Chua are the three local coaches left in Pangilinan’s list of candidates.

"Mr. Pangilinan wants a coach that can make a difference for the team. He’s looking at the possibility of hiring a foreign coach kasi wala siyang makitang available local coach with enough talent to match up with Tim Cone, Ron Jacobs and Norman Black," said Lim.

"Somehow, baka ma-motivate din ang team. Kasi foreign coach na ito, makikita ng team our boss is serious in our bid to win," he added.

Lim said he even considered talking to former Los Angeles Lakers coach Paul Westhead only to find out the revered mentor is now working in Japan.

Former NBA player Johnny Neumann agreed to be interviewed for the job but said he wouldn’t be able to sign a contract until after the Asian Games in October where he’s to call the shots for Lebanon.

Without a coach, Pangilinan is meeting his people for basketball operation today to map out their plan in the 2002 PBA draft on Jan. 13. They have no first round pick and will dip their finger on the draft pool only No. 12 overall.