Aces, Cortez ready to sign, seal deal

Barring last-minute change of mind of either party, Alaska Milk is making Mike Cortez the No. 1 pick in today’s PBA Rookie Draft, and will proceed with the signing of an P8.7-million deal for three years.

This was bared by Alaska team manager Joaqui Trillo, who also told The STAR they have reached a separate agreement with Rob Duat for a P6.6-million pact for two years.

Trillo said they have long had an agreement with Cortez with the former La Salle ace guard agreeing to accept a monthly take of P150,000 this year, P225,000 next year and P350,000 in 2006. Cortez gets the maximum pay allowed under the new salary cap rule in his rookie year and in 2006.

Thus, Alaska mentioning the name of Cortez as the team’s first pick overall in the draft exercise today at Glorietta, is merely the formality of a long-drawn deal.

Duat, meanwhile, agreed to the P6.6 million deal in a phone talk with the management yesterday.

Duat, who had a breakout season with Alaska last year after his transfer from San Miguel, gets an automatic 50-percent increase this year from his P126,000 monthly take-home last year.

Next year, Duat will get even more with a monthly pay of P300,000.

Six players — Jojo Lastimosa, Rodney Santos, Richie Ticzon, Alvin Teng, Eric Reyes and Jon Ordonio — remained unsigned at Alaska. Their fates remain in the air with the team waiting for the draft.

Alaska has another first-round draft right — the No. 10 overall which is being eyed by Talk N Text in exchange for Don Camaso. Trillo said they’re still studying Talk N Text’s offer.