Miranda joins SMB, reunites with ex-teammates

MANILA, Philippines - Denok Miranda reunited with former FEU teammates Arwind Santos and Jonas Villanueva as San Miguel Beer continued to firm up its roster, acquiring the heady Sta. Lucia playmaker in exchange for a future draft pick.

Miranda’s entry is expected to bolster San Miguel Beer’s already formidable backcourt rotation with the move also seen as preparation for the exit of veteran mainstay Olsen Racela.

“In a way, yes, it’s in preparation for Olsen’s retirement. But it’s not happening soon. Olsen has been showing he can still keep up with the competition,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen, who steered the team to the recent Fiesta Conference.

“The opportunity to get Denok was there, so we grabbed it. We’ve become a little overloaded at the point and somebody will have to sacrifice,” Tanquingcen said.

Jonas Villanueva, Mike Cortez and Bonbon Custodio are the others playing the position for the team.

Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez understands the management gave up Miranda due to salary cap constraint.

“It hurts to see Denok go. He’s one of the cornerstones of our team and losing him is a hard pill to swallow,” said Fernandez. “I will surely miss Denok but I’m also happy that he’s with San Miguel.”

On Miranda’s departure, Ryan Reyes and free agent recruits Josh Urbiztondo and Chris Pacana are left to man the backcourt for SLR.

At SMB, Miranda will be reunited with Santos and Villanueva, his teammates at FEU and also at San Miguel’s farm team in the PBL.

Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has finally acquired Ken Bono in a trade deal with Burger King joined in by Barako Bull.

It became a three-team transaction with the Energy Boosters giving up a draft pick to the Whoppers to get Bono who they then traded to the Tigers for Aris Dimaunahan and MC Caceres.

Barako Bull has also got Yousif Aljamal and Rob Reyes from Talk n Text.

With these developments, Burger King coach Yeng Guiao said they will not wait forever for Japeth Aguilar to come back as the team has to move on with or without the young behemoth.

If nothing happens in the next days, Guiao said they will start to look for a replacement, someone who can help JR Quinahan, Carlo Sharma and Beau Belga man the BK frontcourt.