Calaguio inks P14-M deal with Shell; Locsin to Red Bull

Noli Locsin may find a new home in Red Bull after being junked by Airfreight 2100/FedEx even as Vergel Meneses may get stuck at Barangay Ginebra although he has expressed his intention to leave the team.

These developed yesterday while another top draftee in Chris Calaguio got a lucrative contract, signing a P14.4-million, four-year deal with Shell.

Edwin Bacani became the third draftee signed up by Shell after Frederick Canlas and Calaguio, inking a P2.4-million pact for two years. Calaguio, a former key figure in the San Juan Knights team in the MBA picked fourth overall in the recent PBA draft behind Yancy de Ocampo, Rafi Reavis and Omanzie Rodriguez, will get the maximum – P200,000 a month – allowed for a rookie this year and an average of P300,000 from 2002-2005.

It’s the biggest thus far given to a draftee this year, topping the P9 million, three-year deal Homer Se got from Red Bull. Bacani, a former FEU hotshot in the UAAP, is to receive an average monthly take of P100,000.

What could become a bigger transaction though is the one being hatched by Red Bull for Locsin, whose old contract with Tanduay, together with those of Zaldy Realubit and Bong Hawkins, is set to be bought out by Airfreight/FedEx.

While still settling the buyout negotiation with Airfreight/FedEx, Locsin, through his agent Danny Espiritu, had sat down in a meeting with Red Bull management last night. The Photokina franchise expressed keen interest to enlist the burly forward out of La Salle.

Still looking for takers are Realubit and Hawkins, whose playing style FedEx officials thought will not fit in the system they’re planning to implement.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra is also still looking for takers for Meneses.

FedEx officials and their Red Bull counterparts said Meneses had been offered to them for a trade. Both declined because they can’t accommodate the details of the live contract of the one-time MVP awardee.

Meneses is to receive P500,000 a month until 2004 under his existing contract.

In anticipation of Meneses’ departure, Ginebra is set to sign up two slashers in Chester Tolomia and Gilbert Malabanan. However, the Ginebra management is not ruling out the possibility of Meneses staying with the team.

"Masyado kasing malaki ang sweldo kaya hindi maikuha ng ka-trade. Malamang hindi rin makaalis sa Ginebra," said a PBA source.