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Bob
Turner, owner of the Singapore Slingers, is arriving
today, presumably to pursue talks with Harbour Centre’s
main man Jason Castro, Singapore-based Filipino
businessman Paul Monosca disclosed yesterday.
The
Slingers, one of the teams competing in the Australian
National Basketball League (NBL), have already signified
their interest in getting the services of the 5-foot-8
high-flying guard as early as last year.
A member
of the Singapore Slingers, who reinforced the Malaysian
team in the recent Southeast Asian basketball
Association Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia had
earlier announced that team representatives will come to
the country to formalize their offer to the veteran
guard.
Castro,
a back-to-back Philippine Basketball League (PBL) MVP,
caught the fancy of Turner and his assistant, Michael
Johnson during the training stint of the Philippine team
in
Singapore
last year. The Nationals, who were preparing then for
the
Thailand
SEA Games, beat the tall and experienced Slingers.
Harbour
Centre owner Mikee Romero and team manager Erick Arejola
said Turner and Johnson will be watching Castro when
Harbour battles rival Hapee Toothpaste in the PBL today
in Trece Martires, Cavite.
“They’re
really interested in getting a Filipino player, and
Jason is their top priority,” said Monosca. “They want
to have a good Filipino player in their team so that
they can get the support of the Filipino community in
Singapore.”
Romero
said he’ll be happy and proud if Castro would become the
first Filipino player to play in the NBL.
“He has
served the country and Harbour Centre well, so it’s time
for him to look for a better opportunity for himself. If
he gets a good contract, then he should grab it. Anyway,
he’s still young.”
According to Arejola, a member of the Singapore team
gets a minimum contract of $30,000 for a seven-month
job. But with the caliber of Castro, he is likely to get
$50,000 or more.
Castro’s
handler, however, would like to raise it to $60,000
(roughly P2.5 million).
Besides
Castro, Turner and Johnson are also going to scout for
other exciting Filipino players.
Pharex
for real?
After a
landmark win over defending champion Harbour Centre in
its last game, Pharex now shoots for the victory that
may cement its status as a legitimate contender in the
tournament.
The
Medics eye a twice-to-beat incentive in the
quarterfinals against Burger King in the opening game of
the 2008 Philippine Basketball League Lipovitan Amino
Sports Cup today at the Gov. Ayong Maliksi Gym in Trece
Martires, Cavite.
Pharex,
holding an even 7-7 slate, must win in their 1 p.m.
encounter to get the bonus and if the Medics prevail by
at least five points, they will get the privilege of
choosing their opponent for the quarterfinal round.
In the
second game, a finals preview is in the offing when
Harbour Centre (13-1) and Hapee Toothpaste (9-5) collide
at 3 p.m.
Batang
Pier already secured the top spot in the semis and the
privilege of choosing their opponent.
The
Complete Protectors are already locked at the No. 2 spot
and will meet the team that Harbour does not pick.
“Winning
is a habit and we want to bring that kind of attitude
into the quarterfinals,” said Burger King coach Allan
Gregorio.
Burger
King, which sports an 8-6 card, knows that Pharex is in
high spirits following the latter’s 99-97 upset over the
erstwhile unbeaten Batang Pier.
“We have
to be ready because their morale is so high after their
win against Harbour,” said Gregorio.
Medics
head coach Carlo Tan hopes that his wards will play the
same kind of defensive intensity to reach their goal of
reaching the semifinals for the first time since joining
the league last year.
“I’m
glad, the boys found their second wind after dropping
four straight games at the start of the second,” said
Tan, whose team has a roller-coaster ride all throughout
the conference.
“Our win
against Harbour is a confidence-building win. I hope the
players can sustain it,” Tan added.
Ronnie
Bugao, Emerson Oreta, Ronnie Matias and Ian Saladaga
will lead the attack of Pharex while Burger King will
rely on Marcy Arellano, Khiel Misa, Mike Bravo and Allan
Gregorio.
A loss
by Pharex would benefit San Mig Coffee the incentive and
the No. 4 spot in the quarterfinals. Toyota Otis (7-8)
is the other team in the quarterfinals while Noosa Shoes
(6-9) and Bacchus (5-10) are already out of contention.
Meantime, Commissioner Chino Trinidad expects another
interesting contest when the league holds its Showcase
on Saturday at The Arena in San Juan.
Expected
to showcase their skills are Hapee’s Gabe Norwood in the
Slamdunk Contest, Batang Pier’s Jason Castro in the
Obstacle Challenge and Patrick Cabahug of Toyota Otis
and Harbour’s Jonathan Fernandez in the Three-Point
Shootout. |
