MANILA, 29 March — With playing for the national candidates team bound for the Pusan Asian Games already out of the question, Romel Adducul is now shifting his attention to the coming Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) season.
Sadly, he could not focus well because of some lingering uncertainties that are hounding him.
The 6-foot-6 MBA star is still sorting out things with the league which starts its 2002 season on April 6.
It’s now high time to settle old scores between him and the MBA.
Easily the biggest draw and most accomplished player in the MBA ranks, Adducul and his manager, Ed Ponceja, have consulted their lawyers as they try to iron out things in the cager’s stint with his new team, the Pangasinan Waves, which is making a comeback in the league after a two-year absence.
The 2000 MBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) has already declined a spot in the national candidates’ pool for the Philippine team which is currently seeing action in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governor’s Cup.
Adducul, who has still two years remaining in his contract with LBC Batangas which he powered to the MBA National crown last year, was prevented from playing in the national training pool since the MBA season collides with the PBA schedule.
Earlier, the MBA and the Batangas Blades agreed to release and loan Adducul to the national training pool provided the team would be spared from paying his salary in the time he would be spending with the nationals.
The PBA is willing to shoulder a part of Adducul’s salary, but not his full monthly paycheck from the MBA, meaning the pride of Tuguegarao, Cagayan, would have to settle for a pay cut to pursue his bid for a spot in the Asiad team.
But Adducul declined a spot in the national candidates’ pool, saying he could not afford to make that sacrifice, citing his obligation to support his family as well as other financial concerns.
“What is uncertain now is whether he (Adducul) can get assurances that he would receive the full payment stipulated in his contract. Until now, we still don’t know if his new team can give him the same share that ABS-CBN used to give Rommel before,” said Ponceja.
The giant broadcasting conglomerate used to pay three-fourths, or 325,000 pesos, of Adducul’s 525,000 pesos monthly salary while Batangas shoulders the rest.
But ABS-CBN moved out of the league last year, leaving Adducul and the league’s other remaining star players at a loss as to who will shoulder the bulk of their salaries.
Reports have it the last time the Batangas players got their paychecks, minus the ABS-CBN share, was in November.
“We don’t know if ABS-CBN would still pay the remaining balance in Adducul’s contract that’s why we are trying to sort this out with our lawyers and MBA officials,” he added.
Adducul’s contract with the Blades, which prevented him from joining the PBA rookie draft last January, is also proving to be a big factor in the player’s future.
Last month, Adducul formally declined a spot in the candidates’ pool for the Philippine team bound for the Pusan Asian Games in September. Adducul would have been among the Asiad aspirants who have been divided into two teams seeing action in the ongoing PBA Governors Cup.
Adducul, easily the finest big man not playing in the PBA, said it was a painful decision to pull out of the national training pool which he had to make for the sake of his family.
PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino said: “I respect his decision.”
The cager reached the decision a day after Bernardino had convinced the MBA and Adducul’s team, Batangas, to release him to the national training pool although the agreement would have entailed a personal sacrifice from the cager.
The Blades had agreed to loan Adducul to the national candidates pool provided the team provided that the Blades be freed from paying Adducul’s full monthly salary during his stint with the training pool.
Bernardino said the PBA is willing to pay a part of Adducul’s salary in the time he would be spending with the nationals, but not his entire 500,000 pesos monthly paycheck from the MBA.
That would leave the former San Sebastian star agreeing for a pay cut to pursue his bid for a spot in the Asiad team.
Adducul admitted to Bernardino that right now he could not afford to make that sacrifice, citing his obligation to support his family as well as other financial responsibilities.
“I could sense something in his voice. I could feel his desire to get a shot at the RP team and the pain of giving up the opportunity,” Bernardino said. “He said he hoped he would be given another opportunity to serve the national team in the coming years.”
Bernardino said Adducul wished the RP team all the best in its campaign to bring the Asian Games gold medal back to the country, which last won it in 1962.
“He was very professional about the whole thing. I told him he’s still young and also wished him all the best in his blooming career,” Bernardino said.
Emy Arcilla, team manager of the Hapee-RP Team B where Adducul was supposed to play, expressed sadness about the development. “I am of the impression that the PBA is making the necessary moves to land Adducul in the RP pool,” Arcilla said.
He said that aside from the sponsorship of the team, Lamoiyan Corp. president Cecilio Pedro also volunteered to undertake financial consideration to address the plight of Adducul.
“I’m pretty sad about it. And I’m sad for the team. Romel would have been a great addition to the squad,” offered Arcilla. “Perhaps, he has a greater reason for declining the opportunity to rejoin the RP pool.”
Adducul, a veteran of the last three Philippine teams that won gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games, tried to join the PBA rookie draft last January but was unable to get his release from the Blades.
He told Bernardino he is looking forward to making the jump next year, after playing out the final year of his contract in the MBA. Bernardino, at the same time, called on the nation to rally behind the national team in its quest for the Asian Games gold medal.
“I hope we’ll all be one in supporting the RP team in its quest to bring back the coveted gold medal,” he said.
So Adducul is now embarking on a new mission, that is to work wonders for his the Pangasinan Waves. The MBA opens its fifth season with an exciting twinbill in Cebu City next month.
Originally slated in San Fernando, Pampanga, the inaugurals pitting Cagayan de Oro against TPG Davao and Cebuana Lhuillier against Osaka-Pangasinan have to be transferred due to the unavailability of the Bren Guiao Sports Complex.
Mon Tuason, MBA director for marketing and business development, said provincial board member Mark Lapid informed him that the gymnasium is undergoing a major facelift and won’t be available until the end of April.
Among the renovations being done is the replacement of the hardwood flooring of the gymnasium, which serves as the homecourt of the Pampanga Stars (formerly Pampanga Dragons).
MBA Commissioner Chito Loyzaga said he isn’t at all bothered by the transfer of venue because the Cebuanos have been very supportive of the league for the past four years, particularly the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems.
Osaka Iridology formalized its entry to the MBA fold recently by hooking up with the Pangasinan Waves for the first conference.
“I’m happy that we’re finally in the MBA. We’re looking forward to a lasting relationship with the Waves and, of course, the league,” said Jonathan Guardo, president and chief executive officer of the nationwide company specializing in health care.
Guardo and his brother Jerry, Osaka vice president for sales and services, signed the memorandum of agreement with the Waves’ Tim Orbos and Lawrence Chongson. Henceforth, the team will be known as the Osaka-Pangasinan Waves.
“It (Pangasinan) is a very strong team. With Clay (Chris) and Adducul (Romel) around, we have a built-in edge,” said Guardo.
Guardo said under the MOA, team management would remain with Orbos’ group while Osaka Iridology, which has 40 branches around the country, will provide financial support and assist on the marketing aspect.
To further strengthen the Waves, to be coached by Chongson, Guardo said he’d be recommending two Cebuano stalwarts, one of whom is University of Visayas’ Junel Maglasang. The 6-foot-2 Maglasang is the starting off-guard of the Osaka-Cebu team in the Cebu Basketball League, which Guardo heads. Guardo, also the chairman of the Cebu Sports Commission, bared the Waves would transfer their homecourt from Lingayen to Dagupan City, which is more accessible to Pangasinan folds.
The other members of the team are former San Juan Knights Randy Alcantara, Gilbert Castillo and Vilmer Banares, Paul Du, Francis Aquino, Bernard de Guia, Joshua Lambert, Julius David, Carlos Garcia and Fil-Am Rob Johnson.
The RCPI Negros Slashers will also be sporting a new look when they parade a new coach and six new players.
Many-time national player and former pro Jojo Villapando takes over the coaching chores from Robert Sison and with consultation from team management, instituted changes in the Slashers’ roster in their bid to shed bridesmaid tag.
Taken in to reinforce the Slashers, three-time Southern conference champions but without a national title, were MBA returnees Tyrone Baustista, Freche Ang and Carlo Espiritu, veteran Jose Francisco, Ryan Gamboa and 6’7” Vincent San Diego.
The 6’2” Baustista, 6’2” Ang, 6’4” Espiritu, 6’2” Francisco and 6’5” Gamboa are expected to blend in immediately while San Diego, a former De La Salle Green Archer, is a prime prospect.
Of course, the Slashers’ core, headed by inaugural season MVP John Ferriols, remains intact. Aside from the 6’4” Ferriols, other carryovers are 6’4” Reynel Hugnatan, 6’3” Leo Bat-og, 6’2” Patrick Benedicto, 6’2” Ruben dela Rosa, 5’10” Dino Aldeguer and 5’9” Dennis Madrid.
“The team is very balanced. We can match up with the other teams in all aspects,” Villapando said. “We’re very flexible.”
Helping Villapando during the transition period is Rolly Buenaflor, who stays on as the Slashers’ assistant coach.
Special attention is being given to the 21-year-old San Diego, who was not given the necessary experience in the UAAP that the likes of schoolmates Mark Telan and Don Allado had. Babes Alvarez, the Slashers’ general manager, said San Diego has good potential — fundamentally sound and can move well.
Villapando said they are giving San Diego special training for him to withstand the banging in the MBA, specially in the South where the Slashers have been bracketed with the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems, the Cagayan de Oro Amigos and the TPG Davao Eagles.
Meanwhile, Cebuana Lhuillier Gems new coach Francis Rodriguez said he is still in the process of finalizing their line-up after the team underwent major revamp during the off-season.
Only four of the Gems players from last year’s roster were retained, namely Melvin Taguines, Christopher de Jesus, Carlos Sayon and Stephen Padilla.
Taguines, de Jesus and Sayon were re-hired by the Gems management after their contracts expired last December while Padilla still has an existing contract with the Gems.
Other players taken in by Rodriguez are his former wards in the Socsargen-Taguig Marlins team Egay Echavez and Buboy Rodriguez, former San Juan Knights high-leaping forward Bruce Dacia, former Sta. Lucia Realty player Hecules Tangkay and national youth team standout Jean Marc Pingris.
Rodriguez said he is still looking for up to three big guys to complete their lineup.
The Batangas Blades, on the other hand, will field practically the same roster that won last year’s national crown this year.
Coach Rash Racela, however, was quick to admit that without Adducul, they will have a hard time in their bid to defend the title.
Racela tapped a native Batangueno, former National University center Ariel de Castro, to fill in the void left by Adducul, the league’s MVP in 2000. Although Racela admitted De Castro is still raw for the big challenge ahead, he is hoping for the best.
Aside from de Castro, expected to power the Blades’ frontline are veterans Peter Martin, Chris Corbin, John Ramirez and last year’s MVP, Eddie Laure. Also with the Blades are 1999 MVP Alex Compton, Jonathan Serrano, Tonyboy Espinosa, Ralph Rivera, Jeffrey Sanders and Batangas natives Radel Mapalad and Jason Cuevas.
“He (Adducul) is really a big loss to us. Our team now can be compared to a donut which has a big hole at the middle,” said Racela, adding that without a legitimate center like Adducul, they automatically lose eight-to-10 rebounds per game.
“He has been our intimidating factor inside. It has been proven that big men in the MBA get easily intimidating by Adducul,” said Racela. When the MBA, supported by media titan ABS-CBN, was formed in 1998, the concept of promoting regional basketball was dearly embraced by the masses, especially by fans in the provinces.
Local enthusiasts from participating areas flock to their respective gymnasiums and coliseums to show their full support to their star players who despite not being natives of the place, were being adopted as favorite sons.
But beneath the hoopla and the fanfare lies the frustrating tasks and financial shortcomings of running a national league not to mention a basketball team.
Due to financial constrains, a few teams have folded since the inception of the MBA four years ago ñ the inaugural champs Pampanga Dragons, Pangasinan Presidents (Waves), Iloilo Megavolts, Pasig-Rizal Pirates and the Manila Metro Stars, to name only few were not around when the 2001 season beckoned.
This year, the big multitude of fans will surely miss the effervescence of the Laguna Lakers and the multi-titled champions San Juan Knights which disbanded at the end of last year. The absence of San Juan Knights left the National Capital Region (NCR) without representation in the MBA. Even reports are indicating that the Negros Slashers are barely breathing after the pull-out of ABS-CBN funding despite two runner-up finishes in 2001.
Likewise, internal bickerings mired the fledgling league, a series of commissioners have been paraded since its birth.
