Bragging rights to Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola unveils a new import in its next Samsung Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup game against Alaska at the PhilSports Arena tomorrow night.

The Tigers are suiting up 6-8, 235-pound Torraye Braggs of Xavier University to join Ron Hale in the lineup. Braggs replaces Bryant Baysmore who’s booked to leave town tomorrow.

Baysmore, 31, could’ve saved his job if he only played up to par in Coca-Cola’s last outing. But he was clearly outplayed by Stephen Howard in their matchup at center as Sta. Lucia Realty beat the Tigers, 69-63. Baysmore, who finished at Fort Hays State–a National Intercollegiate Athletics Association school–in 1993, was held to only 12 points, his conference low. That must’ve opened coach Chot Reyes’ eyes to Baysmore’s inadequacies.

Too bad. Baysmore enjoyed a breakout game when he poured in 34 points to fuel the Tigers’ 94-91 decision over Talk ‘N Text last July 19. Curiously, that also opened Phone Pals coach Bill Bayno’s eyes to Danny Johnson’s inadequacies. Bayno probably realized Talk ‘N Text wouldn’t go far with an import playing guard. So he served Johnson his walking papers and brought in the much bigger Pete Mickael.

Red Bull isn’t on top of the league standings by accident. The Thunder’s running roughshod over the rest of the pack because of its awesome frontline–Julius Nwosu, DaVonn Harp, and Tony Lang playing five, four, and three in that order. Teams are finding it difficult to matchup, size-wise, against Red Bull and that’s why Coca-Cola decided to bring in somebody who’s more assertive–at least, on paper –than Baysmore under the basket.

If the Tigers hope to go far this conference, they’ve got to show more toughness inside the lane–offensively and defensively. Baysmore just wouldn’t fit the bill. He leaves the Tigers with averages of 17.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 4.0 turnovers in eight contests.

Braggs, 26, has played in Spain, Venezuela, and Greece where the level of competition is much higher than in Belgium, Honduras, Colombia, Poland and Switzerland where Baysmore barnstormed. Last season, Braggs averaged 18.3 points and 8.7 rebounds for the Indiana Legends in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He was the Utah Jazz’ second round pick in the 1998 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft.

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After the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) announced its foldup, orphaned players are wondering if they’ll be paid their back wages. Romel Adducul, for one, hopes some cash is coming his way. He was recently ordered by Pasig City Regional Trial Court judge Amelia Manalastas to pay Senen Mediarito a sum of P420,000 as agent’s fee, 20 percent of that amount as legal fee, and the cost of the suit. Mediarito filed a suit to extract payment from Adducul based on a contract he allegedly signed in 1997.

Not only were talented players displaced by the MBA’s collapse but also talented coaches like the Olongapo Volunteers’ Junel Baculi and his assistant Dino Ponce-Enrile. Surely, Baculi and Ponce-Enrile will be an asset to any PBA team.

With the PBA unlikely to conduct a dispersal draft for MBA players in the middle of the season, next year’s pro draft should welcome such standouts as Adducul, John Ferriols, Bruce Dacia, Billy Mamaril, and Reynel Hugnatan. Former PBA players in the MBA, however, may be signed up as free agents immediately–meaning the likes of Dino Aldeguer, Johnedel Cardel, and Peter Naron are eligible to jump if offers come their way.

NBN-4 is also wondering if the MBA will make good on its obligations amounting to some P5.6 Million. With the government network trying to raise funds for the coverage of the coming Asian Games, it could surely use what the MBA owes.

NBN-4 chairperson Mia Concio told The STAR yesterday the money due from the MBA is earmarked for personnel. "We don’t expect the MBA to pay up today or tomorrow," sighed Ms. Concio. "But we want some recognition of this debt. We want to know how the MBA intends to settle the obligation."

Ms. Concio said NBN-4 went out of its way to accommodate the MBA when the league begged for a carrying station after ABS-CBN’s withdrawal of support this season. The least the MBA should do to reciprocate is to pay its debts to the network. The obligation to NBN-4 is an obligation to the Filipino people and to the country because the government station is mandated to be of service to the nation.

Still, another entity breathing down the MBA’s neck is the Games and Amusements Board (GAB). The MBA has issued several post-dated checks to cover for the GAB’s licensing and other fees. GAB sources said the outstanding amount is in six figures and one-check–for P50,000–has already bounced.

Instead of trumpeting plans of a comeback, MBA management should issue press releases assuring payment to those the league has left holding a sackful of empty promises–in other words, an empty bag.