Harbour Centre out to extend dynasty

With only three holdovers from its five-peat champion squad, Harbour Centre will be hard-pressed to keep its winning run in the Philippine Basketball League. But the Batang Pier vowed to go all out to stay in the hunt for a sixth straight title in the PBL PG Flex Linoleum Cup which kicks off Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

“It’s a complete rebuilding for Harbour Centre,” said Harbour coach Jorge Gallent, who will now pin his hopes on Edwin Asoro, Jerwin Gaco and Boyet Bautista, returnees Rico Maierhoffer and Reed Juntilla and a slew of rookies.

The team, which dominated the league’s last five conferences, has lost the likes of Jason Castro, a three-time MVP, TY Tang and Solomon Mercado to the pro league along with Jeff Chan, Jonathan Fernandez, Beau Belga and Chad Alonzo and Al Vergara, who had been signed up by the Singapore Slingers.

Two existing league guidelines also forced Harbour Centre to lend key players Dylan Ababou and Chester Taylor to Magnolia-UST as part of the PBL’s adopt-a-school program.

However, team owner Mikee Romero, manager Erick Arejola and Gallent remain confident the Batang Pier will still be as competitive and hardworking in the coming conference.

“This season will be a test and a challenge for us,” said Arejola.

Romero, also the current PBL chairman, said how his 10 rookies will adjust into the Harbour Centre system would be a major factor in the team’s quest for a record sixth straight title.

The Batang Pier recently tied up with Far Eastern University under coach Glenn Capacio, who will act as first assistant coach to Gallent, with Junel Baculi remaining as team consultant.

“The adjustment of our 10 rookies to the way Harbour Centre plays would determine how the Batang Pier would fare this season,” Romero said. 

The new players coming from FEU are 2007 UAAP Rookie of the Year JR Cawaling, point guard Mark Baroca, Benedict Fernandez, Paul Sanga and big men Riel Cervantes and Aldriech Ramos.