MANILA, Philippines—Jay Washington, the potential superstar forward who didn’t blossom into one in his first three years in the PBA, is expected to sign up with San Miguel Beer after returning from a vacation in the United States this weekend.
The versatile 6-foot-7 former Eckerd College star will be seeing action for his third team in a career that started in 2005 after being shipped to San Miguel by Talk ‘N Text during Draft Day.
“He can’t wait to play,” said Charlie Dy, Washington’s agent. “He’s happy to be with San Miguel. He’s excited and he hopes to be able to contribute to San Miguel’s campaign (in the coming season).”
There were reports that Washington and Talk ’N Text coach Chot Reyes, who took over before the start of the last Fiesta Cup, didn’t see eye to eye. But Washington still averaged more than 12 points and six rebounds a contest and finished 12th in the MVP race.
The 34th PBA season opens with the Philippine Cup on Oct. 4 and the trade could serve the Beermen well since the team will be without two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso, who went under the knife in the US to remove bone spurs in both feet.
“That’s why the trade made sense because we want somebody who can fill the void while Danny I is out,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen, who made it clear that they have no plans of trading away Washington.
In other PBA developments, Purefoods, according to team manager Rene Pardo, has 20 players practicing, a number of them trying out for slots in time for the opening next month.
Among them is Romel Adducul, the former RP Team stalwart who was recently cleared of nasopharyngeal cancer and is slowly but surely getting his old strength back.
Though no definite date has been scheduled for his comeback game, the 6-foot-6 native of Tuguegarao has been religiously joining team practices as the Tender Juicy Giants try to win a first title in two years.
Adducul discovered he had cancer after having his throat checked because teammate James Yap saw a lump in his neck during practice in between tournaments last season.
“He is working with us already,” said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio Wednesday. “His treatment is complete and he is practicing to get back in game shape.
“It (comeback) will depend on how his body reacts,” added Gregorio. “It may be in the next conference, the following conference, we will never know. But the good thing here is that he is already well.”
Incidentally, Rob Reyes signed a contract for the maximum allowable salary for rookies Wednesday, inking a three-year pact worth P8.7 million with Talk ‘N Text.
The former Harbour Centre ace stands to receive P150,000 in his first year, P225,000 in the second and the veteran’s maximum of P350,000 in the final year.
