Harp, Locsin request early reinstatement

Red Bull’s Davonn Harp and Talk n Text’s Noli Locsin may well become the next players after Jimwell Torion to be reinstated from suspension for alleged illegal drug use after the two submitted documents proving they’re clean.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala expressed great satisfaction on the progress reports of Harp and Locsin although he made no commitment yet on when he will reinstate the two players.

"It’s certainly a positive development. It’s too early to reevaluate their cases but we’ll certainly look at their progress reports and study it carefully," Eala told The STAR.

Harp and Locsin asked the commissioner that their cases be be reevaluated after submitting various certificates proving they’re drug-free.

Harp passed hair follicle and drug dependency tests conducted by Dr. Bernard Regalado in his Department of Health-accredited clinic. Locsin, meanwhile, has undergone detoxification program and is willing to submit himself to voluntary counseling.

Regalado is connected with the Bureau of Food and Drugs and was one of the resource persons invited by Sen. Robert Jaworski during the Senate hearing on the drug menace in the PBA.

Harp and Locsin, along with Ginebra’s Jun Limpot, Talk n Text’s Long David and FedEx’s Ryan Bernardo, tested positive for illegal drug substance in the one-time mandatory doping test conducted by the PBA after Torion, Asi Taulava, Dorian Pena, Alex Crisano and Norman Gonzales flunked random testing.

Torion has already been reinstated after he admitted his indiscretion, then completed a rehabilitation program at the Life Management Inc. The Red Bull pointguard returns to action starting in the Samsung PBA Invitational Cup opening July 27.

Eala practically ruled out reactivating any of the other suspended players before the mid-season invitational tourney.

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk and Barangay Ginebra arranged a virtual knockout game for the last berth in the Samsung PBA Invitational Cup as they fashioned out contrasting wins at the Astrodome last night.

The Aces overcame a sudden collapse in the final half to salvage a 93-86 win over the Sta. Lucia Realtors in overtime while the Kings simply overpowered the out-of-it-all Shell Turbochargers, 102-82.

Going into the final playdate of the qualifying round, Alaska, with a clean 3-0 win-loss record, is actually a full-game ahead of Ginebra (2-1). But the Aces can’t afford to lose to the Kings tomorrow as they will end up with identical 3-1 slates and the latter will gain entry into the invitational proper on the winner-over-the-other rule.

Earlier, Alaska Milk overcame a sudden collapse in the final half and enhanced its bid for a trip to the Samsung PBA Invitational Cup with a 93-86 win in overtime over Sta. Lucia Realty at the Astrodome last night.

The Aces squandered a 15-point lead and fell behind by nine in a shocking skid in the last two quarters but regained their bearing in the nick of time as they preserved the win and kept their unbeaten run in the invitational qualifier.

Third placers in the recent All-Filipino Cup, the Aces go for a sweep of the qualifier versus the Barangay Ginebra Kings tomorrow in the same venue.

The Realtors, the All-Filipino third runner-up, bowed out of the fight for the last berth in the invitationasl on their second loss in three outings.

"Obviously, I’m very proud of my team. We blew a 15-point lead and fell behind by nine. We could’ve quit right there but we didn’t. It does to show the maturity of my team," said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

"A year ago, we would have folded up in this kind of game," Cone added.

John Arigo erupted for 31 points, including six in overtime, while Ali Peek and Don Allado both came up with a double-double game, combining for 26 points and 27 rebounds.

Marlou Aquino scored a career-high 35 points that went for naught on their ouster in the qualifier.