Woolpert takes leave of absence

Talk N Text coach Paul Woolpert took a leave of absence Thursday night to attend to some personal matters in the United States but PBA sources said the stocky American mentor may not return to TnT fold to complete his contract with the team.

The same source said the Talk N Text management has contacted Woolpert’s predecessor Bill Bayno but the former UNLV Running Rebels coach agreed only to work as a team consultant on a short term basis.

Bayno, who steered the Yakima Sun Kings to the championship in the last CBA campaign, reportedly got an offer to coach the Denver Nuggets in the next NBA season.

Woolpert, who is under contract with Talk N Text until the end of the year, gave no assurance when he will be back although there were reports that the Phone Pals appeared more comfortable working with Bayno.

" We (the management and Woolpert) had a mutual agreement. There’s no ill feeling. We’re allowing him to look for other options outside of the Philippines," said Talk N Text team manager Frankie Lim.

The Phone Pals will now be handled by chief deputy Joel Banal in the ongoing Samsung PBA All-Filipino Cup eliminations.

The Ateneo mentor was tapped as the interim head coach during the team lunch yesterday in San Fernando, Pampanga where the Phone Pals are to play the Coca-Cola Tigers today.

The STAR source said the American mentor might not return to complete the terms of his contract with the Phone Pals since he could get a more lucrative coaching offer in the US. The Senate inquiry on Fil-Ams where his name has been dragged into with the issue on his working permit may also influence his decision not to return.

Meanwhile, a splendid game from a small package in Rensy Bajar proved to be what Shell needed to stop a long skid at the expense of Purefoods last night. Bajar dished out his best game in a 68-65 win over the Hotdogs at the Makati Coliseum.

The sophomore pro made a career-high 14 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, fueling a spirited rally that had Shell wiping out a 10-point deficit to end an eight-game skid in a four-week stretch.

"A lot of things have been said about us but the bottomline is that we’re working hard. You came in practice and you wouldn’t believe we’re 1-8. We’re really working hard at nakikita naman sa game dahil lagi naman kaming nandiyan natatalo lang sa huli. It’s manifestation of our lack of big men," said coach Perry Ronquillo as his Turbochargers nailed down only their second win in 10 games.