That’s the word from Phone Pals team manager Frankie Lim who despite the assurance, told The STAR yesterday the team is still hoping to enlist the 1998 Philippine Basketball Association (PBL) MVP from Marbel, South Cotabato.
Lim said Mobiline’s PBA Board representative Ignatius Yenko and Alaska team owner Wilfred Uytengsu are in contact as regards Duremdes’ future.
"I’m not involved in the negotiations – all I know is we won’t tender an offer sheet," said Lim. "It’s all up to Kenneth – I think he has an idea of what’s on the table. We’re talking of a contract for seven years."
As for Benjie Paras, Lim said he would be "a good addition" to the Phone Pals but if it means trading a quality player like Jerry Codinera, he’d rather pass. "We’ll stick with Jerry – we know he’s healthy and we know what he can do on the floor," said Lim.
Among the Mobiline free agents, Lim said Gabby Cui was rehired on a one-year extension. Released were Eric Reyes, Al Solis, and Boyet Francisco. Josel Angeles is still unsigned but will likely stay as the team’s 12th man. He said at least three teams are courting Reyes.
Regarding this Sunday’s draft, Lim said Mobiline has the No. 7 overall pick it got from Tanduay in the Jeffrey Cariaso trade. Its regular No. 5 slot was traded to Shell in the Vic Pablo deal. "Of course, we’d like to get a higher pick if there’s a deal we can work out," added Lim. "We’re still on the lookout for a big man and two other players who are like Kenneth. We’re waiting for the latest developments on Danny Ildefonso – we’re interested in him, too, who wouldn’t be?"
Lim said the team will finalize its lineup after the draft.
Lim disclosed that the Phone Pals were close to recruiting Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) Fil-Am Augustus Cesar Brown but the deal fizzled out. Brown would’ve been Mobiline’s MBA direct-hire.
"We talked to Brown and his agent Jim Klibanoff for over a month," said Lim. "Brown told us he would get his Department of Justice confirmation. We had a tentative agreement on his salary. We were ready to submit his name to the PBA to beat the Dec. 31 deadline for MBA direct-hires. He even asked us to get his wife – he’s getting married in May – a job here. Then, he decided to quit playing this year or until he gets married. He’s now in Georgia. The only way he’ll play in the PBA is to apply for the draft next year, assuming he has his DOJ clearance."