Energy Coffee Masters to enlist new import?

MANILA, Philippines - The Barako Energy Coffee team management and coaching staff meet today to decide on the fate of their import Sam Monroe.

Coach Junel Baculi has asked the management to look for a replacement, saying Monroe can’t provide the game that could make the team competitive in the ongoing 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference.

The Energy Coffee Masters are in the cellar with a 1-6 win-loss card through the first four weeks of the season-ending reinforced tourney.

They return to action on Sunday, taking on the Alaska Milk Aces at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

“We’re currently on a break. We’ll know the decision of the management tomorrow (today),” said Baculi.

“I’ve also talked to our import. I told him in case he stays, his heart should always be in the game. He said he wants to win. However, desire sometimes is not enough, ” Baculi said.

The rookie PBA coach, a multi-titled tactician in the amateur league, said Monroe couldn’t provide them the inside presence which the team badly needs.

“Imports in the PBA should have the inside and outside game. We are a small team and yet our import has no post threat,” Baculi said.

Monroe had a productive performance leading the Coffee Masters to a triumphant debut in the tourney.

Barako, however, has since lost its next six games.

The Coffee Masters played without an import versus the Derby Ace Llamados Wednesday as Monroe served a game suspension for a flagrant foul penalty 2 on Talk n Text’s Mark Yee on April 16.

Three teams in Air21, Derby Ace and Barangay Ginebra have taken in new imports.

Air21 has sent home two imports. The Express will now bank on Reggie Larry as they play the Talk n Text Texters on Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Llamados have signed Cliff Brown to take over from Lorenzo Wade while the Kings took in Mildon Ambres to replace Awvee Storey.

Brown was teammate of Jai Lewis with the Toyota Alvark in the Japanese league.

Ambres, meanwhile, is fresh from a stint with the Idaho Stampede in the NBA Developmental League.

The Kings and the Llamados are tied with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at fourth place with identical 3-2 win-loss cards.

San Miguel leads the tourney with a 5-1 record, followed by Talk n Text at 5-2 and Coca-Cola at 4-3.