MANILA, 27 February 2004 — Sad days are over for Purefoods Hotdogs.
This was the bold prediction of Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio, saying that his crew are bound to reclaim lost glory in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) this season.
“There’s no other way but up for us,” said Gregorio, who steered the Hotdogs to the Commissioner’s Cup crown in 2002.
With all the major changes in their lineup, the Hotdogs are brimming with confidence that they would make it big this year.
The Hotdogs are coming off their worst season in 16 years, registering only nine victories against 27 defeats that included a club record 12 straight setbacks in a stretch bridging the season’s three tournaments.
The biggest move by management was when they acquired veteran slotman Zandro “Jun” Limpot from Ginebra. They also took Laure through blockbuster trades, then June Peter Simon came aboard from the free-agent pool.
Known as Ginebra’s “Main Man” in last year’s season, Limpot was traded to Sta. Lucia for a future second round pick. After that, the Realtors shipped Limpot to Purefoods for the 6-foot-9 Seigle who was sent to the Kings in exchange for a second round pick this year or in 2005. Completing the Hotdogs’ buildup was the arrival of James Yap, Ervin Sotto and Paul Artadi from the annual draft exercise.
“They (Yap and Artadi) are big additions to the team,” said Gregorio.
The rookies definitely would pump up fresh blood to a lineup made up of grizzled veteran campaigners that include Alvin Patrimonio, Kerby Raymundo, Rey Evangelista, Noy Castillo, Boyet Fernandez and Richard Yee.
“The old Purefoods team is back,” said Gregorio, who is determined to bounce back from a fruitless campaign last season. “This is now an entirely different team, one which could match up with any team on any given night.”
As far as Gregorio is concerned, the Hotdogs now have the manpower to give other teams a tougher fight.
The acquisition of Limpot — 10-year veteran — in exchange for Andy Seigle has given Gregorio a go-to guy at the post who could attract double-teaming defense and, in the process, free up the shooters.
Limpot is still searching for his first championship ring in the league, and he hopes to find it in a new home this year.
He feels sad leaving Barangay Ginebra but happy and excited to be part of a Purefoods team he feels is bound for a successful ride this coming season.
“New home, new challenge. But I like the challenge,” said Limpot, the only certified PBA star who has yet to taste a championship in the league. “I like the team concept of Purefoods and the role I would be playing in the team.”
Limpot said he doesn’t see any problem getting along with his new teammates, pointing out that Patrimonio, the Hotdogs’ team captain, was his teammate in the RP Centennial Team that took part in the Bangkok Asian Games.
Limpot is playing for his third team after, ironically, the Realtors, who traded him to the Kings for 6-foot-9 Marlou Aquino.
At 31 and in the final year of a mega-contract he got from his original team Sta. Lucia, Limpot promised to work even harder, hoping to finally win that elusive trophy.
Limpot is coming back from a drug-related suspension last year. He barged into the pro league through Sta Lucia Realty in 1993 until he was traded to the Kings for Aquino several years back.
The La Salle product, already a member of the league’s 5,000-point club, had been Ginebra’s main offensive weapon, until he was suspended May last year for alleged drug use. Purefoods will be his third team.
Under Ginebra coach Allan Caidic, Limpot averaged 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists last season. He has yet to win a title since breaking into the league in 1993 with Sta. Lucia.
“We don’t have a player who has to be double-teamed in our old lineup,” Gregorio said. Gregorio also believes they have filled up their need for a legitimate point guard in Simon and Artadi. “Simon is a steal,” Gregorio said of the Fash Liquid standout who is an MVP contender in the current Philippine Basketball League (PBL) tourney where he is the league’s top shooter. Gregorio is laying out his vision for a quick and mobile Purefoods team.
He made it known since last year that only Patrimonio, Evangelista and Raymundo were exempt from any trades. Meanwhile, Caidic readily bared that their mission to make a big turnaround would be anchored on team balance brought about by new acquisitions.
“There was no team balance last year. When you pull out the starters, the pace suffers,” Caidic explained.
With the strong buildup, surpassing its dismal 16-25 win-loss record last year appears an easy task for Ginebra.
And coach Caidic readily agreed that, with the arrival of their new players, they could now aim high. “Nobody can take things easy now, knowing there’s somebody waiting in line to play the spot. They’re very competitive even in practice,” he said.
Ginebra, which failed to make it to the semifinals of any of the three tournaments last year, exudes confidence its transformation into a serious title contender is just around the bend.
Without first and second round picks in the recent annual draft, Caidic went to the free agent pool, tapping Migs Noble and Noynoy Falcasantos. Before that, he convinced Jayjay Helterbrand to make a comeback from a hiatus in South Carolina.
“We badly need help in the middle, someone who can compete against Asi (Taulava) and Davonn (Harp),” the mentor said. “Andy (Seigle) can do that for us.”
Caidic said Santos gives the team quickness and a steady backcourt “plus he can also play the point, if he needs to.”
The holdovers are Eric Menk, Mark Caguioa, Rommel Adducul, Sunday Salvacion, Aris Dimaunahan, Alex Crisano and Banjo Calpito.
Shell, yet again, is setting out as an underdog this season, although the Turbochargers are confident they would make up this year for their sorry performances in the past.
After being in the dump for two straight years, there is supposed to be no way for the Shell Turbo Chargers to go but up.
Rich Alvarez, whom Shell made the top pick in this year’s rookie draft, will play a huge role if there indeed is truth to that saying.
The former Ateneo ace, drafted first overall this year, comes to a Shell side reeling from setbacks dating back from what seems like an eternity. Alvarez is actually the last piece of a massive overhaul that started from the very top.
Gone is Perry Ronquillo, the portly, eloquent mentor responsible for Shell’s last two championships who resigned at the end of last season after failing to lead the Turbo Chargers out of the doldrums.
Gone, too, are Dale Singson and Eddie Laure, two young stalwarts who were supposed to be part of Shell’s future that Ronquillo visualized.
In comes Billy Mamaril from Purefoods and American coach John Moran who comes to the Shell squad armed with impressive credentials. Moran is bringing with him a brand new direction that aims to make the Turbo Chargers contenders once more.
Shell failed to make it past the eliminations for two straight years, and the PBA Fiesta Conference starting on Feb. 22 is supposed to be the start of a long road back to respectability.
“We are very excited about our team, which loves to run and gun,” said board representative Bobby Kanapi. “We are still looking for deals to further bolster our lineup, but whatever happens, we are optimistic of winning many games this season.
