No big deal for Pals new coach

Talk N Text officials yesterday denied reports that the Phone Pals have agreed to pay newly-appointed head coach Paul Woolpert a staggering P1.3 million monthly salary until the end of the 2003 season.

"We are guided by strict budgets," said team manager Frankie Lim in a statement released by Talk N Text which took in the former CBA All-Star coach to replace the controversial Bill Bayno.

Lim also said that the basic compensation package of Woolpert is well within the salary range of local professional coaches, and in some instances even lower. He did not elaborate.

Lim added that similar to the contracts of other coaches in the PBA, Woolpert’s contains bonus clauses based solely on the performance of the team.

"If the team doesn’t perform well, the bonus clauses don’t kick in," said the Talk N Text team manager.

Lim further stressed that Talk N Text management shall abide by the laws governing the employment of foreigners in the country, and that the decision to hire a foreign coach after Bayno’s exit is just in line with the team’s commitment to provide PBA fans with the best possible brand of basketball the Phone Pals are known for.

Under Bayno, the former UNLV mentor, the Phone Pals reached the finals of the previous conference and engaged Red Bull, the defending champion, in a classic best-of-seven series that went the distance.

Bayno, however, decided to give up the coaching job despite the team’s strong finish marred by his quite unfriendly relationship with league officials and the group of local coaches, which is expected to raise a howl following Woolpert’s appointment.

Action in the season-ending All-Filipino Cup, meanwhile, resumes today with four teams making their debuts at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Alaska Milk takes on Shell at 5:30 p.m. while Red Bull collides with Coca-Cola at 7:30 with the winners joining defending champion San Miguel and Purefoods in the early lead. Losers in last Sunday’s opener were FedEx and Ginebra.