Fonacier to join Ateneo pals in SMB?

Larry Fonacier is another former Ateneo Blue Eagle set to land at San Miguel Beer.

Reliable sources said San Miguel is in hot pursuit of the 2005-06 Rookie of the Year winner, offering Kiko Adriano, Brandon Cablay and Christian Calaguio as trade replacement to Red Bull.

If the deal is closed, Fonacier is joining at San Miguel former Ateneo teammates Enrico Villanueva, Wesley Gonzales and LA Tenorio. Veteran point guard Olsen Racela is another ex-Atenean on the team.

San Miguel acquired Villanueva in an earlier trade deal with Red Bull. Gonzales was taken in from Air21 and Tenorio from the 2006 Annual Rookie Draft.

Fonacier was among Red Bull players whose playing contract expired at the close of the 2007 PBA season.

Leo Najorda, Junthy Valenzuela, Mike Hrabak and Warren Ybanez all have been given fresh two-year contracts. Fonacier is likely to get his new contract with San Miguel.

Meanwhile, Ranidel de Ocampo signed a P12.6-million, three-year contract extension with Air21 before joining the RP team in its departure for Tokushima, Japan.

The 6-foot-6 center-forward is guaranteed a maximum pay of P350,000 a month up to 2010.

June Peter Simon is close to sealing a contract-extension with Purefoods.

At Talk n Text, Macmac Cardona is also looking for contract extension this early although his existing pact is alive until next year.

“Macmac is building a house in Valle Verde. He needs a new contract which he can show to the bank,” said Espiritu, also Cardona’s agent-manager.

Talk n Text could heed Cardona’s request with the player likely to get the maximum pay of P350,000 a month in his new contract following an excellent showing in the recent Fiesta Cup where he emerged Best Player of the Conference.

Also looking for new contract at Talk n Text are Yancy de Ocampo and Donbel Belano.