Magsanoc out of SLR, but there are no takers

Ronnie Magsanoc was once the PBA’s premier pointguard but that was years ago, and at 34, his fans may have seen the last of him on the playing court.

It’s not hard to figure out that the Magsanoc who suited up for Sta. Lucia Realty in the 2000 campaign was no longer the Magsanoc of old – the sharp-shooting guard who can take over a game when he wants to.

His legs slowed down by age, Magsanoc spent most of the time on the bench this past season with fellow former UP Maroon Paolo Mendoza assuming the role of starting pointguard in the team.

And thus Magsanoc’s numbers declined all the more in his 13th season in the league.

Surely, it came not at right time with his contract – assumed by Sta. Lucia from Shell in 1998 – expiring at the stroke of midnight tomorrow.

Magsanoc said he wants to play for one or two more years before calling it quits, but he was already told by the Sta. Lucia management that he may not be accommodated anymore in the coming season.

"Ayaw naman naming maipit siya, kaya hanggang maaga, sinabi na naming magtanong na sa ibang team kung gusto pa niyang maglaro," said Sta. Lucia team manager Buddy Encarnado.

"I don’t know where to go, but I want to play for one or two more years. I’m healthy and I think I can still compete," said Magsanoc, who made it to the PBA Mythical First Team once in 1990 and Second Team thrice -- in 1989, 1991 and 1992 -- and was included in the PBA’s Greatest 25 Players named during the league’s silver anniversary bash last year.

Meanwhile, seven Fil-foreigners, including the highly-touted Kenny Evans of San Francisco State, have applied for the Annual PBA Draft set Jan. 14 at Glorietta in Makati.

Evans is reportedly a player in the mold of Noy Castillo of Purefoods although he has been scouted to be a more athletic type than the Hotdogs guard who was selected second overall behind Danny Ildefonso in 1998.

The other Fil-foreigners who have so far signified their intentions to join the PBA are Jason Henkey of Glendora High, Ken Gumpenberger of Cal State-San Bernardino, David Friedhof of Apple Valley, Cesar Hernandez, Charles de Jesus of Western Wyoming and 6-foot-2 guard Jeremy Anicieta of North Park University.

All these players have until Jan. 9 to complete their citizenship requirements to be able to join the draft proper.

Other notable players who have applied for the draft are Willie Miller, Tristan Codamon, Jovito Sese, Oliver Agapito and Marvin Ortiguerra.