Aces sign Telan for P13.3-M

Mark Clemence Telan is the newest certified member of the PBA millionaires club.

The two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player awardee and former national youth player gained membership in the elite club as he signed a P13.3 million offer sheet from Alaska Milk late Monday night.

The Alaska management dangled the lucrative offer to Telan a few days after Talk N Text gained the signing rights on the player through a trade deal with Shell.

Talk N Text, which is keen on getting the services of Telan to keep a competitive frontline despite Asi Taulava’s stint with the national team, needs to match up Alaska’s offer until Monday to put the 6-foot-6 forward in a Phone Pal uniform.

"We have to study the impact of matching Alaska’s offer sheet. Baka hindi kami pumasok sa salary cap. Ang tingin ko, we will be forced to play with an 11-man lineup, if we match the offer," said Talk N Text team manager Nick dela Paz.

Details of the Alaska offer included a monthly pay of P335,000 this year, P375,000 next year and P400,000 in 2004. Telan will also be entitled to a P14,000 bonus for every won game in the eliminations, P18,000 in the semifinals, P18,000 in playoff for third place, P20,000 in the title series, and an equivalent of a two-month salary for a championship.

Meanwhile, Airfreight-FedEx president Lito Alvarez said they will likely sign up top draft pick Yancy de Ocampo to a two-year contract worth the maximum allowed in the league.

If the ballclub is willing to shell out P200,000 a month this year and P500,000 next year, then De Ocampo is guaranteed P8.4 million in his first two years as a pro.

Alvarez also said they intend to likewise sign up Renren Ritualo to a two-year deal but with lesser amount of money.

However, Airfreight-FedEx coach Derrick Pumaren couldn’t go full blast in their buildup, having only six players with live contracts. And the management is still trying to work out trade deals involving Bong Hawkins, Noli Locsin, Alex Crisano and Elmer Lago.

Talk N Text declined Crisano for Jerry Codinera, Ginebra turned down Elmer Lago for EJ Feihl and Shell rejected Hawkins and Locsin for future draft picks.