Asi happy to be back, eyes RP team stint

Reporting to active duty after a nine-month suspension, Asi Taulava is raring to have a fresh start and put the bitter past behind.

"I’m leaving everything behind, forget what had happened and hopefully I would do good as I start something new," said Taulava as he appeared at the Araneta Coliseum for his first game after getting cleared for a return stint in the PBA.

Taulava, the 31-year-old PBA MVP in 2003, said he doesn’t have hard feelings against anybody who had a hand in his suspension that cost him millions of pesos in salary and other perks with the Talk n Text.

"I understand everything that had happened. I know the commissioner (Noli Eala) was just doing his job," said Taulava.

Extremely happy to be back playing, the 6-foot-8 behemoth said his initial goal is to help the Phone Pals win the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Cup championship versus the San Miguel Beermen then hopefully also gain a return stint with the national team.

"(Playing for the RP team) has always been my dream. It’s more of a redemption thing for me after our fourth place finish in Busan. I’m excited to play again for the RP team especially now that they have tapped new young guys for it," said the Busan Asian Games veteran.

National coach Chot Reyes later said the coaching staff have talked about the new development on Taulava’s case and have decided to invite the player to join the national pool.

"He’ll be invited to join the pool. But just like the any other member of the team, he has to work for a slot in it," said Reyes.

At the same time, Reyes said they beat the deadline for registration for the Global Hoops Summit in Las Vegas on July 16-21. "Through our connection in the US Basketball Academy, they allowed us to register with our fees to follow later," said Reyes.

Taulava, meanwhile, is feeling the pressure of his return trip to the league.

"I’m afraid playing my first game because I don’t know where I would stand. I hope it won’t be a big flop," said Taulava, adding he has been practising with the Phone Pals throughout his suspension.

It was such a long, lonely wait and when the call finally came Wednesday night from Talk n Text governor Ricky Vargas, Taulava thought it was a cruel joke.

"I thought the management was joking. So I told them please don’t do it because I’d been through a lot," said Taulava. — Nelson Beltran