MANILA, 16 January 2004 — Veteran Jun Limpot is still searching for his first championship ring in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) — and he hopes to find it in a new home this year.
Limpot of Barangay Ginebra is headed to Purefoods in exchange for Fil-Am Andy Seigle using Sta. Lucia Realty as a third party following a blockbuster trade involving three teams in the league.
Known as Ginebra’s “Main Man” in last year’s season, Limpot will be traded to Sta. Lucia for a future second round pick. After that, the Realtors will ship Limpot to Purefoods for the 6-foot-9 Seigle who will then be sent to the Kings in exchange for a second round pick this year or in 2005.
The 6-foot-6 slotman said 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 Purefoods team captain Alvin Patrimonio was his teammate in the RP Centennial Team that took part in the Bangkok Asian Games.
“Purefoods management is overhauling the team. They’re building up the team and I feel fortunate to be part of it,” Limpot said.
Limpot will be with 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.
Ginebra will also be the third team for Seigle who is beset by spasms and inquiries on his Filipino lineage. Before playing for Purefoods, Seigle had played for Talk ‘N’ Text alongside buddy Asi Taulava.
Seigle saw limited action last year due to back spasms.
The addition of Seigle is expected to add more ceiling to the frontline of the Gin Kings, who also boast of the 6-foot-6 Eric Menk and the 6-foot-7 Alex Crisano.
Pardo said the team is in the process of retooling, adding almost “half of the squad” are being offered to other teams in continuing trade talks. “We’re still negotiating with other teams and some of the formal talks are promising,” said Pardo said.
Pardo shares the view head coach Ryan Gregorio’s vision of a quick, mobile team.
Both Gregorio and Pardo have made it known since last year that only Patrimonio, Rey Evangelista and Kerby Raymundo are exempt from any trades.
Pardo said their “untouchable” list now include 6-foot-5 sophomore Billy Mamaril, who would move over to the center slot vacated by Seigle, while Limpot and Raymundo will be his main co-frontliners.
“Billy was our main substitute for Andy last year, but now he’s got to step up and show us what he can do as a starter,” said Pardo. Currently making up Purefoods’ backcourt are Boyet Fernandez, Noy Castillo, Rodney Santos and new acquisition Peter Jun Simon while Patrimonio and Evangelista headline the forwards.
Out are Ronald Magtulis and Chris Cantonjos who have left for Sta. Lucia, with the former as part of the Limpot deal.
Gregorio said it is likely the contracts of Gilbert Demape and Richard Yee, which have also expired, would be renewed.
Earlier, Alaska team manager Joaqui Trillo said he will seek a clarification on the celebrated three-team trade between Barangay Ginebra, sister team Purefoods and Sta. Lucia Realty involving Limpot, Seigle and future draft picks.
“I’ll try to talk with other teams so that we can raise this issue in the board meeting. But I can write the PBA commissioner first so that we can get a clear picture of what’s really happening in this trade,” Trillo said.
League rules bar Ginebra, Purefoods, San Miguel Beer and Coca Cola — teams under the San Miguel Corp. umbrella — to directly trade. “It may look legit but I’ve been hearing some views that Sta. Lucia’s role here is simply to help the Ginebra-Purefoods trade. It maybe legal but we must look deeper to determine if they’re just going around the rule.”
Trillo said that Eala should determine the legitimacy of such deal so that “future deals of the same nature” would be free from doubts.
“If it’s really okay, that’s good for the teams involved. But I just want to get some clarifications so that all teams would understand. Who knows, maybe Alaska can also do it in the future.”
But PBA Commissioner Noli Eala said the transactions undertaken by the three teams “were perfectly valid.”
Purefoods team manager Rene Pardo said they’re finalizing the details as Sta. Lucia was now bargaining for another player from the Hotdogs. Pardo said Sta. Lucia now wanted to acquire Rodney Santos instead of Ronald Magtulis.
