INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—This early, Harbour Centre looks ahead to another Philippine Basketball League championship by teaming up with top UAAP contender Far Eastern University in a partnership expected to boost both squads’ recruitment and training programs.

“Our agreement is that we have to help each other out to keep our winning tradition going,” said Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero after the Batang Pier and the Tamaraws signed on Monday a memorandum of agreement for a two-year deal.

“FEU is a tough team, so we hope we can help them achieve their goal this year. But I’m confident they (Tamaraws) can do it.”

The five-time champion Batang Pier will have to do without several key players, including three-time Most Valuable Player Jason Castro, next season.

Among the Tamaraws eyed to beef up the Batang Pier’s title-retention bid are Benedict Fernandez, former UAAP Rookie of the Year JR Cawaling, Mark Barroca, Reil Cervantes, Aldrech Ramos, Paul Sanga, Jon Alisbo, Edgar Tanuan and Jens Knuttel.

“This is a perfect partnership since we both have a winning tradition and our players are already ripe for the PBL,” said FEU team manager Anton Montinola in a statement.

The Tamaraws shared second spot with defending champion De La Salle University at 5-2 after the first round of eliminations, just a game behind league-leading Ateneo de Manila University at 6-1.

“We can possibly send them abroad [in preparation] for next year’s UAAP tournament,” said team manager Erick Arejola.

Batang Pier coach Jorge Gallent, FEU athletic moderator Mark Molina and Harbour Centre chief operating officer Edwin Jeremillo also graced the contract signing.