Shell signs Paras for P25-M; Hawkins gets P18-M

Two mega-back deals were completed yesterday in the PBA with Benjie Paras finally signing a P25-million contract with Shell and Bong Hawkins inking an P18-million pact with Tanduay.

Danny Ildefonso is likely to close negotiations with San Miguel in a day or two with the player, who has decided to ask for a three-year deal, now only preparing the bonus scheme he will bargain from the SMC franchise.

Paras will be paid the maximum of P.5 million a month from 2001 to 2003 for a total of P18 million. He’ll receive only P7 million in 2004 and 2005.

Hawkins, on the other hand, will receive a monthly pay of P250,000 this year, P400,000 next year, P350,000 in year 2003 and P450,000 in 2004.

The former ace Perpetual Help Altas in the NCAA earlier nixed Alaska’s proposed package of P18 million in three years. Alaska decided to trade him to Tanduay because of the salary cap restrictions.
Tanduay signed up Hawkins while still studying a proposed deal from Pop Cola regarding Bonel Balingit.

The Pop Cola team management has said it’s now willing to yield its right on Balingit to Tanduay provided the Basic Holdings Inc. franchise will also get Wynne Arboleda in exchange for a future draft pick.

Arboleda is guaranteed more than P2 million this year although he’s in the reserve list. — Nelson Beltran