Dragons give up on Adducul, pursue deal with Cabatu

The Welcoat Dragons management has given up hopes on acquiring the services of Rommel Adducul and will now firm up its negotiation with rookie Junjun Cabatu to complete the team roster for the 2006-07 PBA wars.

"I believe our chance to make a deal with Ginebra is very remote. They seem to have no plan of letting Rommel go," said Welcoat co-owner Raymund Yu.

"Without a call from Ginebra, we have no other option but to settle with the team that we have right now," Yu added.

The only player left unsigned in the Welcoat camp is the 6-foot-5 center-forward Cabatu who’s seeking a better deal than the one offered by the management.

But Danny Espiritu, Cabatu’s agent-adviser, said they’re now ready to sign a contract with the ball club.

One of three players directly elevated by Welcoat to the pro ranks, Cabatu reportedly has a standing offer of close to P2.2 million for two years from the Asian Coating Inc. franchise.

Froilan Baguion, Joey Mente, Denver Lopez, Jojo Tangkay, Nino Gelig, Jireh Ivanez, Jay Sagad, JayR Reyes, Adonis Sta. Maria, Gilbert Lao and Rob Wainwright are the other players tapped by coach Leo Austria.

Wainwright’s contract, however, is expiring at the end of the month. The 6-foot-3 forward was acquired by Welcoat from Coca-Cola through the dispersal draft.

UP’s Abby Santos, the 10th pick overall in the recent Rookie Draft, could end up on the reserve list or out of it all. — Nelson Beltran