Welcoat taps Alex assistant mentor

American player Alex Compton is making it to the Philippine Basketball Association, after all.

Compton is bringing his act in the local pro league not as a player, though, but as one of the assistant coaches at the Welcoat Dragons.

The former MBA star, who also had a stint with the Montaña Jewels in the PBL, will sit in the Welcoat bench as among the deputies of head coach Leo Austria.

The other assistant coaches in the new PBA ball club are Caloy Garcia and Bogs Adornado.

Compton, an American born in the Philippines, had appealed the PBA board of governors that he be allowed to play in the league as a special case but was turned down.

The 5-foot-10 guard decided to end his playing career at the close of the recent PBL tourney.

Before being recruited to work as assistant coach at Welcoat, Compton was tapped by Fil-Am player Kelly Williams to be his agent-manager.

Compton, who also endorses a number of commercial products in the country, represented Williams in closing an P8.5 million three-year contract with Sta. Lucia Realty.

Welcoat now has a complete lineup of coaches but has yet to finalize the roster of players it’s fielding in its maiden voyage in the pro league.

The team management is still pursuing a trade deal with Barangay Ginebra to acquire the services of Rommel Adducul.

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk signed rookie free agent Aaron Aban to a two-year deal and veteran free agent Poch Juinio to a one-conference pact.

Financial details were not divulged.