Tigers release Abarrientos; Kings waiting in the wings

Johnny Abarrientos was given his release papers by Coca-Cola yesterday and could well end up with Barangay Ginebra if the other teams outside the San Miguel Corp. family pass up the chance to enlist the 1996 MVP awardee.

Under the league rules on player transfer among sister teams, Ginebra will have to wait five working days from the other ball clubs to acquire the services of Abarrientos.

"We’re rebuilding and we’re investing on young players. It doesn’t mean Johnny can no longer play competitive game. We just think this move would be good for the team and for Johnny," said Coca-Cola team manager Hector Calma.

"We want to give Johnny his best options as he’s about to retire, given his valuable contribution not only to the Coca-Cola organization but more so to Philippine basketball," Tigers coach Binky Favis has said earlier.

After being advised that he may not be re-signed at Coca-Cola, Abarrientos expressed desire to end his career with his original team Alaska Milk.

At press time, there’s no word whether the Uytengsu franchise can accommodate the veteran guard with the team having completed its lineup with its acquisition of rookie draftees Christian Luanzon and Aaron Aban.

Ginebra, meanwhile, is keenly waiting for developent on Abarrientos with the team in dire need of seasoned hand on the backcourt with the departure of Kalani Ferreria and Aris Dimaunahan and injured Jayjay Helterbrand still on the mend.

Meanwhile, the Enrico Villanueva-Joseph Yeo rift is far from over.

Villanueva gave Yeo a sharp nudge while other players shook hands at midcourt following Red Bull’s convincing win over Coca-Cola, 102-94, in the PBA pre-season series last night at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym.

"Good for him, it’s the only thing I did," said Villanueva in Filipino.

Timely intervention of the referees prevented the incident from escalating into a fight as the other members of the teams shook hands. Yeo was led by the referees to the dugout.

The two figured in a fight during the La Salle-Ateneo dream match last year at the Araneta Coliseum.