Peace at last, war begins

Early in the morning yesterday, national coach Jong Uichico had peace talks with Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino. At noontime, Uichico spoke war talk as he finally divided the national pool into two candidates teams which will be sent to "test war" in the 2002 PBA Governors Cup starting Feb. 10 at the Araneta Coliseum.

No less than PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino brokered the peace talks, and, fortunately, the consensus among the coach and his two disgruntled players was to put their misunderstanding behind them.

Aquino and Espino returned to the training camp later and the national pool had its last workout together before Uichico announced who will be with whom in dividing the national hopefuls into two teams.

Team A which is likely to don the Selecta Ice Cream colors is composed of Espino, Olsen Racela, Patrick Fran, Kenneth Duremdes, Jimmy Alapag, Chris Calaguio, Rafi Reavies, Chris Jackson, Eric Menk, Poch Juinio, Asi Taulava, Ali Peek, Jeffrey Flowers and Chris Clay.

Team B is made up of Aquino, Johnny Abarrientos, Boyet Fernandez, Danny and Andy Seigle, Noy Castillo, Renren Ritualo, Jeffrey Cariaso, Don Camaso, Rudy Hatfield, Danny Ildefonso, Mick Pennisi, Davonn Harp, EJ Feihl and Romel Adducul.

Uichico included Adducul in the list although he’s been skipping the training now because of a problem with the MBA. Bernardino said he’s still clearing Adducul’s status with newly-appointed MBA commissioner Chito Loyzaga.

Selecta signed a P15-million agreement with the PBA to sponsor one candidate team in the Governors Cup and the very Philippine team in the Commissioner’s Cup. At presstime, Selecta officials have yet to choose which team will carry its banner in the season-opening tourney, which incidentally is sponsored by Samsung.

Hapee Toothpaste is sponsoring the other RP candidate team. Hapee signed a P9-million sponsorship agreement with the PBA.

"We have put the problem behind us and everybody is now looking forward to have good practice and good training," said Uichico who also bared he’s now contemplating on handling both teams in the Samsung Governors Cup. His initial idea is to let coach Allan Caidic hold the rein in one team and coach Eric Altamirano the other while he supervises from the sidelines.

"Mas maganda na siguro na ako na ang humawak so I can have a better feel of the team and so I can see better how the players respond to game situations," said Uichico.

With Aquino and Espino returning to the training camp, Uichico has now 24 full-bodied men at his disposal. Still undergoing therapy treatment of their injuries are Duremdes, Abarrientos, Peek and Castillo.

Clay, Flowers and Alapag religiously attend the workout although they’re still awaiting the confirmation of the Department of Justice on their Filipino citizenship.