MANILA, Philippines?He may not be here to attend the PBA rookie draft next month at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, but Jason Castro?s agent Danny Espiritu confirmed that he is set to file an application on behalf of the cager.

Danny said, Jason left for Singapore a week ago to start training with the Slingers for the forthcoming NBL season which starts in September.

The Singapore Slingers finished at the bottom of the ladder in the last NBL conference.

?If he is drafted, the ballclub that picks him must be willing to wait until the NBL season is over,? Danny said.

Jason was met at the airport by team owner Bob Turner and driven to his quarters before they proceeded to a downtown restaurant for a steak dinner. Danny said Jason was very impressed with his quarters and might ask a cousin based in Singapore to stay with him in his flat.

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Spectators in the last Purefoods-Talk ?N Text game where the slalom dash occurred agree that Phone Pal Ali Peek deserves a pat on the back for being instrumental in stemming further on-court violence.

When chaos erupted, everybody thought Ali was poised to team up with Terrence in attacking the offender, which was James Yap.

James admitted he thought so too. But instead of going after James, Ali chased Leather and quickly locked him in his arms so he could not move.

Leather tried to break lose, but he couldn?t. Obviously Ali was stronger than he is.

That gave James time to sprint away and avoid the wrath of the fuming import. Peek only let go of Leather when he was sure James was a safe distance away from the import.

Had Ali not acted swiftly, my colleagues said Leather could have very likely caught up with James.

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Speaking of Leather, I understand that several quarters were egging Sta. Lucia Realty governor Buddy Encarnado to appeal to the PBA Commissioner?s Office to have the import suspended after the Purefoods-Talk ?N Text game.

The Realtors were scheduled to meet the Phone Pals the following game day in a knockout match for a quarterfinal slot.

While a suspension would have definitely given the Realtors an advantage, Buddy opted not to make any such move.

?That would make the game lopsided and deprive the public of an interesting match,? he said.

Buddy did not get the opportunity to regret this decision because they won against the Phone Pals.

After the game, Buddy was surprised to get a visit at the dugout from Talk ?N Text officials headed by Manny V. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas, who dropped by to congratulate him for making the quarterfinals.

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Expect the NU Bulldogs to play with more vigor and vitality in their succeeding games.

In case you haven?t heard, NU has been purchased by the Sy family of SM, just like fellow tycoon Lucio Tan who purchased the University of the East.

According to SM exec Topher Bautista, Hans Sy, son of patriarch Henry, has promised to give NU a UAAP basketball title in four years.

Hans, he said, was a varsity cager of Xavier School.