Barako maintains move to appoint Baculi legit

MANILA, Philippines - Barako Bull maintains its appointment of Junel Baculi as the team’s new head coach is completely aboveboard.

Meanwhile, Air21 enlisted former Brigham Young University standout Keena Young to replace original import choice LeRoy Hickerson who injured his elbow in a car accident.

Barako team owner George Chua made the assurance to PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios Thursday amidst fears from some quarters of possible violation by the ball club on the condition set by the league board allowing Harbour Centre’s entry as team sponsor.

“Mr. George Chua has called giving their commitment on strict compliance of the provision. He also assured us he’s still on top of the situation in running the affairs of the team,” Barrios told The STAR.

The league commissioner said it’s well and good since “the expectation of the board is for the two parties (Barako Bull and Harbour Centre) to take to heart the condition given them.”

Under the provision approved by the board, Harbour Centre will have no involvement in the team outside of placement of brand name in team uniform.

Harbour Centre is prohibited from “fielding any known Harbour Centre personalities in the team management, coaching staff personnel and the likes.”

Baculi had previous involvement with Harbour Centre, working as team consultant in its PBL stint and calling the shots for the Harbour Centre-RP team in a number of international competitions.

The former Mapua player, however, was no longer connected with Harbour Centre, but with Air21, prior to his appointment as Barako Bull coach.

He was an assistant to BK coach Yeng Guiao in the last Philippine Cup.

In another development, Guiao and the Express have lost the slam-dunking Hickerson to injury he suffered in Kentucky. He flew home for a brief rest after helping Air21 to a second-place finish in a recent Dubai invitational tourney.

Air21 tapped Young for Hickerson instead.

Young starred for BYU from 2004-2007. Before this, Young was a four-year letterman at Clifton J. Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas. He was named All-Region three times and All-State twice.

As a senior, he averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game with his team winning the Texas State championship and earning a Top 10 national ranking.

Young was a high school teammate and friend of Kendrick Perkins. University of Memphis coach John Calipari offered scholarships to both Perkins and Young. Both players initially committed to play at Memphis, but Perkins changed his mind and entered the 2003 NBA Draft.