MANILA, 28 December — Sta. Lucia Realty’s crystal-clear message to Dennis Espino: You name it, you will have it.
The veteran power forward is being offered by Realtors management virtually the "moon and the stars" in a bid to keep him in their fold.
Still basking in glory after ruling the Governors Cup for its first title in nine years in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the ballclub is moving heaven and earth to renew the contract of Espino easily one of the biggest names to become available in the free-agent market at the end of the year.
His contract with Sta. Lucia Realty is expiring at the end of the month.
"Well, he can make his own contract if he wants to. Once he presents it to us, I can tell you it’s a done deal," said Sta. Lucia governor and team manager Buddy Encarnado of the 28-years-old Espino, a vital cog in the Realtors’ 4-2 victory over San Miguel in the Governors Cup’s best-of-seven finals recently.
Encarnado made it known that the Realtors will keep Espino "at all cost" fanning speculations that the six-year veteran who is acknowledged as one of the league’s toughest defenders will definitely raise his asking price. Currently, Espino is receiving at least 400,000 pesos a month in the last year of his contract.
The team’s highest paid player is Marlou Aquino who receives a maximum salary, plus handsome perks.
The 6-foot-9 Aquino and the 6-foot-6 Espino form a fearsome front-line combination known as Twin Towers undoubtedly one of the most intimidating seen in the league in years. If Espino agrees to stay with the Realtors, he would join the elite list of players receiving multi-million contracts. Espino stands to become among the PBA’s highest paid players, getting 500,000 pesos a month the maximum allowed in the league.
"He deserves a good contract," said Encarnado, giving a nod of approval that his blue-chip ward can now command his price to his liking, if not to his satisfaction.
"He is our leader. I tell you, he’s not only a good player but a good leader. His teammates have big respect for him," said Encarnado.
Top pick in the 1995 amateur draft, Espino is one of 48 PBA players with playing contracts expiring at the end of the year.
Surely, he’ll become the hottest commodity in the free agent market and teams would scramble to acquire him.
At this early, Encarnado had already signified the team’s intention to match all offer sheets from other teams to keep the towering ex-UST Tiger’s services.
"They can tender their offer sheets, but that would only become an exercise in futility because we’ll definitely match it," he said in a remark that sounded more like a warning shot more than a challenge to other ballclubs. Espino has earned superstar status as early as his rookie year in 1995 and a place in the Mythical First Five this year. He narrowly lost the Best Player of the Conference award in the Governors Cup to San Miguel’s Danny Ildefonso.
It can be recalled that Espino renewed his contract with the Realtors in 1997.
He signed a multi-million five-year package which earned for him 300,000 pesos a month for that season, 325,000 pesos in 1998, 350,000 pesos in 1998, 375,000 pesos in 1999 and 400,000 pesos in 2000 for a total of 20.25 million pesos.
The amounts were inclusive of other perks, including a 600-square meter prime lot in Sta. Lucia’s Parkwoods property in Pasig.
Espino’s move to affix his signature on the dotted line was particularly significant for the team as Aquino his long-time friend back during their heydays in the amateur league opted to stay with Sta. Lucia Realty despite juicy offers from other teams.
Aquino turned down what was easily the richest deal offered by any team to any player in the league ever as he decided to stick with the Realtors, settling for 30 million pesos in a five-year contract renewal.
Aquino said that he signed the contract to prove that he valued his friendship with his teammates, particularly Espino, and loyalty to the team where he started his career as an amateur player in the early 90s.
He only asked that management guarantee him that it will also keep Espino which it did. Espino signed that five-year contract renewal. Aquino would have received more than double of what he’ll get from Sta. Lucia had he decided to accept Tanduay’s offer sheet. Tanduay proposed a 72-million peso contract for 12 years to Aquino.
He would have received the maximum pay of .5 million pesos a month until year 2012 apart from lucrative perks, including scholarship for his children, luxury cars and annual free PAL plane tickets to the US for his family.
