This came about as Tanduay team owner Bong Tan reportedly rejected the proposed Hawkins-Rudy Hatfield trade over the weekend as part of Alaska’s process of rebuilding its once formidable team in the PBA.
Sources in the Tanduay camp said the deal has been approved by Tanduay coach Alfrancis Chua but Tan turned down the offer in what is widely-believed to be a vote of confidence in Hatfield, who has been the Rhum Masters’ go-to guy after the departure of fellow Fil-Am Sonny Alvarado and with Eric Menk’s career still in limbo.
The Uytengsu franchise initiated the Hawkins-Hatfield deal one day after it traded ace playmaker Johnny Abarrientos and Poch Juinio for Pop Cola’s Fil-Am duo of Ali Peek and Jon Ordonio.
Alaska is keen on rebuilding again the same way it did in the early 1990s that saw the Milkmen transform from a mediocre squad to become the decade's most dominant team.
While coach Tim Cone, who whipped the team into a championship caliber squad en route to steering Alaska to nine titles, including a Grand Slam in 1996, admitted doing such had caused him a lot of pains, he said they had to look after the future of the team since the others are likewise undergoing tremendous team buildup.
Although Alaska and Pop Cola have yet to submit to the PBA Commissioner’s Office the official trade papers, it is believed that the deal has been consummated.
The departure of Abarrientos, Juinio and Hawkins will give Alaska enough room in their salary cap and it is expected to build the core of its team around Rodney Santos and Kenneth Duremdes, who is likely to receive the maximum monthly salary of P.5 million.
Mobiline, in an attempt to further boost its bid for a first-ever PBA crown, had expressed interest in acquiring the high-flying Duremdes and offered the 25-year-old pride of Marbel, South Cotabato a staggering P42 million, seven-year contract.
Alaska, however, said it will keep Duremdes, whose five-year contract with the Aces will expire on Dec. 31.
Duremdes, the 1998 MVP and a vital cog in Alaska’s major triumphs in recent years, was made the No. 1 draft pick by Sunkist in 1995, in the process signing a five-year contract before he was sent to Alaska in the middle of the 1997 season.
Meanwhile, the contracts of Fil-Am Danny Seigle and this year’s MVP Danny Ildefonso, the 1-2 punch of San Miguel Beer, are likewise expiring at the end of the year and both players are expected to ask for the monthly maximum pay.