Mobiline acquires slam-dunkin' Camaso

Determined to finally nail a championship in the PBA this season, Mobiline continued to overhaul its lineup, signing up one of the Manila Metrostars' stars Celedon Camaso yesterday.

The Mobiline team management bought out the slam-dunking Camaso's contract from the Metrostars and restructured it right away to give the 6-foot-4 forward a guaranteed pay of P5.4 million in two years.

Mobiline worked extra hard to gain Camaso's services in an effort to further strengthen the team which now features former Shell forward Vic Pablo, San Juan Knights' guard Gherome Ejercito and Pasig Pirates' center Gido Babilonia.

Camaso had turned out to be one of the most sought-after players during the off-season following impressive stints in the RP team's SEA Games conquest in Brunei and in the Metrostars' triumphant campaign in the MBA last year.

Apparently because of the influence of Mobiline team owner Manny Pangilinan, the Piltel franchise got the deal with the Metrostars gaining the services of Camaso over other hopefuls San Miguel Beer and newcomer Red Bull.

Pop Cola likewise recruited a player from the MBA fold, signing up Laguna Laker Wynne Arboleda - a SEA Games veteran like Camaso.

These developed as Mobiline, Pop Cola and the rest of the PBA teams prepared plans and strategies for the staging of the annual PBA Amateur Draft today at the Glorietta in Makati.

Sta. Lucia Realty owns the first pick overall and it is expected to use the rights in drafting former University of the Philippines hotshot Paolo Mendoza.

The first official function of the PBA this year starts at 2 p.m. It will be telecast by Vintage Television at 7:30 p.m. over IBC 13.

A total of 26 aspirants made it to the draft pool with big men Allan Gamboa, Ronaldo Carmona, Erwin Velez and guards Dino Aldeguer, Ernesto Billones and Angelo Velasco all likely to become first round picks like Mendoza.

Joining the PBA without going through the draft are Kirby Raymundo, Jimwell Torion, Junthy Valenzuela, Bernard Tanpua, Lordy Tugade and Fil-Am Devon Harp who are selected by Red Bull as their six direct-hire players.

Pop Cola picks second overall and it may opt to get the 6-foot-6 Gamboa.

Next in order in the first round is Purefoods then Mobiline, Red Bull, Barangay Ginebra, Pop Cola, Alaska, Alaska again and Sta. Lucia Realty. Pop Cola, Alaska and Sta. Lucia have two picks in the first round because of previous deals.

Also in the draft pool are homegrown talents Arthur Managbanag, Jojo Castillo, Joel Co, Jay Torres, Glen Peter Yap, William Marasigan, Allan Yu, Philip Ray Fortaleza, Rommel Saga, Edwin Manabat, Noel David, Marc Victoria and Fil-foreign players John Limwell Tigley, Aster Abueg, Jorge Manuel Giurias, Kenny Evans, Chris Lee Imperial Clark, Julio Tan II and Sten Manlapaz Pilskog. -