Hawkins may reunite with former Alaska teammates

While Noli Locsin is headed for Red Bull, Bong Hawkins, on the other hand, may find himself jumping over to Coca Cola and be reunited with old Alaska teammates Johnny Abarrientos, Poch Juinio and Jeffrey Cariaso.

Airfreight 2100/FedEx officials have started negotiation with their Coca Cola counterparts for a possible trade between Hawkins and Estong Ballesteros.

Meanwhile, Gerard Francisco signed a three-year contract extension worth P11-million with Sta. Lucia Realty.

Airfreight/FedEx got good signs it would be able to resolve its problems with Locsin and Hawkins yesterday while at the same time ending its negotiations with draft pick Ren Ren Ritualo.

The team management and Ritualo agreed to a P9-million contract for three years. The two parties are set to sign the contract today.

The eighth pick overall in the recent draft, Ritualo, a former national youth player and La Salle standout, is to get an average monthly pay of P250,000.

After sealing their deal with Ritualo today, Airfreight/FedEx officials will start negotiations with top pick Yancy de Ocampo.

Airfreight/FedEx opened discussion with Coca Cola for a possible Hawkins-Ballesteros trade as the ballclub and Hawkins still couldn’t settle a buyout deal.

The ballclub wanted to buy out the three remaining years in Hawkins’ contract for 50 percent of the actual price but the layer was asking for 80 percent. The total amount involved is P18 million.

What could be brough to a settlement is the Hawkins-Ballesteros trade. Under the deal being hatched, FedEx would absorb the contract of Ballesteros then cover the difference in the monthly takes of the two players. For the 2002 season, Hawkins is to get a monthly income of P350,000 and Ballesteros P300,000.