B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados, In Trouble?
Source: Philstar.com
With injured stars Kerby Raymundo and Marc Pingris out of the 2009-10 PBA Philippine Cup, coach Jorge Gallent considers B-MEG Derby Ace just “a middle-of-the-pack team” when the league fires off Oct. 3.
“We’ve lost a key offensive guy (Raymundo) and an important defensive player (Pingris). Their spots are hard to fill. We’ll be in for a tough grind in the coming tourney,” said Gallent, who has taken over the coaching chores from Ryan Gregorio.
Rookies Pari Llagas and Val Acuna will have their hands full in the absence of Raymundo and Pingris.
Another addition to the team is forward Jerwin Gaco, who scrapped a plan to return to the Asean Basketball League.
“He’s a good addition to us. He’s been practicing with us for three days. I’ve talked to (Philippine Patriots co-owner) Mikee Romero and he’s given his blessing for Jerwin to join us,” said Gallent, Gaco’s mentor with Harbour Centre in the PBL.
Still up in the air are the contracts of veterans Don Allado and Romel Adducul.
“The management has given Don until Friday to decide on our offer. The team has a good offer but I guess Don is bargaining,” said Gallent.
Adducul’s contract-extension, meanwhile, would depend on a league rule which Gallent is still checking on.
“Are we allowed to put 14 names on the roster with Kerby and Pingris on the injured list? Or should we include Kerby or Pingris on the 14 for us not to take the risk of losing them to free-agency? We don’t want what happened to San Miguel on the Sam Eman case,” said Gallent.
Alaska Milk grabbed Eman as San Miguel relegated the young behemoth to the unrestricted reserve list.
Gallent had earlier expressed his wish to have Mick Pennisi in his team but the SMC bosses turned his request down.
With what’s left in his roster, Gallent intends to make Derby Ace a quick running team in the coming tourney.
“We’ll be much, much quicker than the old team. We’ll do that in a bid to compensate for Kerby’s and Ping’s absence,” said Gallent.
“Jonas Villanueva will help us do that. I’ve also spoken to Roger Yap and he’s okay with that,” Gallent said.
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