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Welcoat Serious in Buildup

On: 21 August 2007

Welcoat Tags Belasco for Cabatu
Aljamal to TNT, Lanete to Purefoods

Monday, 20 August 2007

Veteran player Nic Belasco is going to Welcoat, sophomore pro Junjun Cabatu to Alaska and rookie draftee Yousif Aljamal to Talk N Text.

With the 2007 PBA Rookie Draft over, most of the ballclubs have started trying to boost their rosters with Belasco, Cabatu and Aljamal among the players involved in trade deals consummated thus far.

Red Bull earlier acquired Mark Andaya for nothing from Air21 while Purefoods signedup rookie free agent Chico Lanete for a two-year contract worth P5 million.

Welcoat is showing great resolve to make an impact in the coming 33rd PBA season, recruiting Belasco from Alaska after picking Joe Devance and Ryan Arana from the Rookie Draft Sunday.

The Dragons, the league whipping boys last campaign, acquired Belasco in exchange for Cabatu. Belasco is a restricted free agent with his previous playing contract with Alaska expiring at the end of the 2006-07 season.

Welcoat and Alaska closed the deal a few minutes before the Draft held at the Market! Market! Activity Center in Taguig.

“This is a win-win deal for both teams. We need a veteran player who could give us stability. Cabatu could give Alaska youth exuberance,” said Welcoat coach Leo Austria.

Yousif Aljamal is headed for Talk N Text since the Piltel franchise and Air21 also had an agreement event before the drafting.

Air21 selected Aljamal at No. 8 overall. Talk N Text didn’t have a chance to tab the 6-foot-3 forward since the Phone Pals had given up their first round pick on a previous trade transaction.

Talk N Text team manager Frankie Lim said they’re still working on what to give in exchange for their acquisition of Aljamal, his player at San Beda.

Air21 coach Bo Perasol said the team is likely to keep their three other draftees in JC Intal, Doug Kramer and Marvin Cruz.

The three and another rookie hopeful RJ Masbang join the Express as they start their training Tuesday at the Xavier Gym in San Juan.

“With the entry of Intal, Kramer and Cruz, we now have nine players in our lineup. Gary David is our 10th man. We’ll look at two other players from the free agent pool,” said Perasol.

Draft aspirants not picked Sunday automatically joined the free agent pool. Among noted players not drafted were guards Khiel Misa, Reed Juntilla and Wynsjohn Te. (Source: PBA Site

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