Airfreight eyes De Ocampo as top draft pick

Romel Adducul is out of the PBA draft pool but Airfreight 2100/FedEx remains upbeat it can form a competitive team for its maiden campaign in the country’s premiere pro league.

With the MBA keeping Adducul, AF/FedEx is now eyeing Yancy de Ocampo to make the top pick in the 2002 PBA Draft set at the Glorietta in Makati tomorrow.

This was bared yesterday by AF/FedEx president Lito Alvarez who also said that they finally came to terms with coach Derrick Pumaren, got a deal with comebacking PBA player Bong Alvarez, and traded Jeffrey Cariaso and Freddie Abuda to Coca-Cola for draft rights.

Meanwhile, Shell dealt Mark Telan to Talk ’N Text in exchange for the Phone Pals’ second round pick this year.

"We know Yancy de Ocampo very well because he’s a part of the RP youth team which we support," said Alvarez of the towering slotman of St. Francis of Assisi.

On Bong Alvarez, the youthful FedEx top honcho said: "I think his razzle-dazzle type of games fits out team perfectly."

At presstime, Alvarez said from among the players they inherited from Tanduay, only pointguards Dindo Pumaren and Wynne Arboleda are sure of making the team.

FedEx traded Cariaso and Abuda to Coca-Cola, formerly Pop Cola, in exchange for the Tigers’ first round draft pick this year and their second round draft choice next year. And the team is still looking for trade deals involving Bong Hawkins and Noli Locsin.

"Kapag available pa si Ren-ren Ritualo when our second pick in the first round comes, we’ll definitely pick him. If not, we’ll just get the best talent available at that time," said Alvarez.

Meanwhile, in a gesture of goodwill to its favorite MBA son, AF/FedEx chairman Bert Lina said it is willing to shoulder Adducul’s monthly salary in the event he is named to the Philippine team to the Asian Games.

Lina regrets the inability of Adducul to join the draft but nevertheless vowed to take care of his monthly paycheck if he is chosen to the national pool.

Adducul was never given his release papers by the LBC Batangas Blades although there were already a go-signal from ABS-CBN which pays the bulk of his salary. LBC Batangas top official Santi Araneta reportedly asked a P6 million buyout deal from FedEx for Adducul’s release. — Nelson Beltran