RoS stars to become free agents

MANILA, Philippines - Barely savoring its title romp in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, the Rain or Shine management now faces the difficult task of keeping the champion squad together with 10 Elasto Painters becoming free agents in the next few weeks.

Paul Lee, Jeff Chan, Jericho Cruz, Beau Belga, JR Quiñahan and Raymond Almazan, all key players in the Elasto Painters’ triumphant journey in the just-concluded conference with a 4-2 win over Alaska, are among those approaching free agency status.

The RoS management now has the unenviable task of having to deal with all these blue-chip players and the contract offers they may get from the other ball clubs.

With the Elasto Painters’ consistent showing at least in the last years, the management is now likely to deal with a more lucrative payroll – or trade offers that will be hard to resist.

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, however, stressed the goal is “to retain the whole group.”

“This season break is important for us. The front office will buckle down to work. The next conference is opening July 17, and we must be done with all the negotiations by the first week of July,” said Guiao.

“We don’t have trade plans, but of course it would be a mutual agreement between the team and the players,” Guiao added.

A delicate issue is the salary cap.

At the expiration of their previous contracts, Lee and Belga both received offers from other ball clubs. Lee even tried to hold out but was prevailed upon to stay.

Poachers and raiders can well be after all these RoS lead guns during the league break.

“Maaga kaming magtra-trabaho ni (RoS top official) Atty. Mert (Mondragon),” said Guiao.

Jeric Teng, Ronnie Matias and two other RoS reserves will also become free agents.

For all their own successes, San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria said they’re open to trade deals.

“That’s the case even in the NBA – the best of them still entertaining trades that can make their teams better, tougher,” said Austria.

“For us, it’s one way of keeping our players on their toes o para hindi magpetik-petik (so that our players not to relax),” Austria also said.

Star, NLEX, Globalport, Mahindra, Blackwater and Phoenix Petroleum are teams which have tweaked their lineups after their early exit in the Commissioner’s Cup.

Austria, however, is likely to keep its core rotation led by JuneMar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, Chris Lutz and Ronald Tubid.

Arizona Reid is returning by mid-June to help the Beermen defend the Governors Cup crown they won over the Alaska Milk Aces last season.