Juinio inks P18-M deal for 3 years

Poch Juinio, the former UP Maroon and national player who toiled in the shadow of illustrious teammates in his first eight years as professional cager, has finally emerged as franchise player in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Coca-Cola bestowed Juinio that honor as they closed a deal yesterday, guaranteeing the 6-foot-6 slotman the maximum pay for this year up to year 2004 or a total of P18 million for three years, exclusive of a bonus package.

This developed as Noli Locsin formalized his transfer to Red Bull by signing a P2.4-million contract for one year while Bong Hawkins assured himself of a bigger buyout deal with Airfreight 2100/FedEx through the intercession of the PBA Commissioner’s Office.

Hawkins sought the intervention of league commissioner Jun Bernardino in his contract dispute with Airfreight/FedEx, saying the ball club is obliged to pay him until 2004. FedEx contended that Hawkins is tied up with them only until the end of the year.

The problem stemmed from two different contracts Hawkins signed with Tanduay Rhum last year.

The PBA ruled that it is only honoring the uniform player’s contract which states Hawkins is guaranteed about P8 million for the next three years.

Though still settling a buyout deal with Airfreight/FedEx, Hawkins is assured of a slot in the Coca-Cola ball club where he will be reunited with former Alaska teammates Juinio, Johnny Abarrientos, Jeffrey Cariaso and Chris Bolado.

Like Juinio, Abarrientos is set to sign a three-year deal although it is worth less. This is a shift of fortunes for the two players, with Abarrientos always earning much more than Juinio since they first played together at Alaska in 1994.

A bit slower now at 31, Abarrientos will get only around P14 million from 2002-2004.

Jojo Manalo joins the former Alaska players at Coca-Cola. The Welcoat gunner in the PBL got a two-year deal with the former Pop Cola ball club.

Airfreight/FedEx, meanwhile, gave former Laguna Laker hotshot Biboy Simon a one-year pact.