Nawalang star players ng Harbour Centre may kapalit

Nawala ang starting unit ng Harbour Centre sa PBA Draft noong Linggo, pero kumpiyansa pa rin si coach Jorge Gallent sa tie-up ng koponan sa Far Eastern University na siyang makakatulong sa problema sa pagpuno ng Batang Pier ng kanilang ikaanim na sunod na titulo sa PBL sa susunod na buwan.

“As you can see these FEU players, they have now what it takes to play in the PBL. They have already matured and more importantly, much wiser now,” ani Gallent, na naglaro din sa FEU noong collegiate day niya noong kaagahan ng 90s.

Wala na sa Harbour Centre para sa season-opening tournament sina three-time MVP Jason Castro, TY Tang, Jeff Chan, Beau Belga, Sol Mercado at ang sweet-shooting na si Jonathan Fernandez na lahat ay na-draft ng iba’t ibang PBA team.

Malamang na mawawala din ang serbisyo ng kanilang sariling “Bruise Brothers” sa katauhan nina Chad Alonzo at Jerwyn Gaco -- na kapwa naman mga free agents.

“We will lose at least eight players and that will be my challenge to my coaching staff,” ani Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero. “But Jorge is telling me that we will be fine since FEU players can take up the slack.”

Naniniwala sina Gallent at team manager Erick Arejola na mapupunan ni FEU guard Mark Barroca ang iiwang posisyon ni Tang dahil magaling din itong shooter at maglaro sa loob.

“I like the way he play, he has a big heart. He was superb during their game against La Salle, he really stood tall,” patungkol ni Gallent sa 5-foot-10 guard na may average na   11.6 points, 5.6 rebounds at 3.1 assists kada laro.

Puwede namang pamalit si Benedict Fernandez kay Castro dahil sa taglay nitong all-around talent habang si JR Cawaling naman ang tamang kapalit sa iiwang posisyon nina Jonathan Fernandez at .

Makakapalit naman ni Belga si Aldrech Ramos ang 6’6 center habang si Reil Cervantes at Paul Sanga naman ang magbibigay ng extra firepower at enerhiya sa koponan.

“I don’t think they will have a hard time adjusting to the brand of basketball in the PBL since FEU has good basketball program,” ani Gallent, na siya ring gumigiya sa San Sebastian College sa NCAA.