Pals re-sign Taulava, Alapag for P20.2M

Asi Taulava and Jimmy Alapag can well focus on Talk n Text’s bid for another title shot in the Philippine Basketball Association, having secured fresh juicy pacts with the Phone Pals worth P20.2 million.

Sources said Taulava was re-signed to P10.9 million and Alapag P9.3 million in separate deals – exclusive of bonuses and other perks – lasting up to July 2008.

Taulava will continue to receive the maximum monthly pay allowed in the league – now down to P350,000 from P500,000. Alapag, on the other hand, gets P300,000 a month.

The two Talk n Text stars are among players whose previous contracts expired last Dec. 31.

Forward Harvey Carey is another Talk n Text player who was signed to a new deal.

The Phone Pals plunge back into action in the San Mig Coffee Fiesta Cup tomorrow at the start of the quarterfinals against the winner of the San Miguel-Air21 wildcard duel.

Other players whose contracts were extended recently were Alaska’s Mike Cortez, Brandon Cablay and Stephen Padilla, Coca-Cola’s Billy Mamaril, Purefoods’ Noy Castillo, Mike Hrabak and Roger Yap, Red Bull’s Topex Robinson, Lordy Tugade, Junthy Valenzuela and Cyrus Baguio, Sta. Lucia’s Marlou Aquino, Paolo Mendoza and Adonis Sta. Maria, and Air21’s John Ferriols.

Most of them settled for a contract-extension only up to July with hopes of getting a better bargain afterwards. — Nelson Beltran