Aces reward Baguio with rich 3-year pact

MANILA, Philippines—Cyrus Baguio, a key figure in Alaska’s successful PBA Fiesta Conference drive recently, is being rewarded with a new three-year deal worth just over P12 million.   The creative, high-flying guard out of Santo Tomas in the UAAP will sign in the next few days a deal similarly given by Barangay Ginebra to two-time MVP Willie Miller last week.   Miller was acquired by Barangay Ginebra from Alaska during the Fiesta Conference with the Gin Kings giving up Baguio in what many thought was a one-on-one swap that benefitted the Gins more.   Alaska coach Tim Cone had emphasized, however, that, despite how great Baguio played in the last tournament, it only scratched the tip of the 6-foot-1 guard’s talent.   Baguio scored 24 points in the title-clinching game against San Miguel and his performance in the entire tournament cemented his status as a real superstar in the league. He averaged close to 15 points in the series.   Meanwhile, with so much room in its salary cap, league newcomer Meralco will start chasing several big-name free agents using the offer sheet as the Volts try to come up with the strongest possible roster when the 36th Season opens on Oct. 3.   After acquiring unorthodox guard Mac Cardona from sister team Talk ‘N Text to be its franchise player, Meralco still has a lot of money to spend, with those currently in the lineup earning salaries not even coming close to Cardona’s P350,000 a month.   A source who refused to be identified yesterday told the Inquirer that management and coaching staff have scheduled meetings with top player agents starting last night to find out which marquee players have expiring pacts and to look for possible trades to lure some talents from their mother squads.   One player Meralco is showing so much interest in is veteran internationalist Asi Taulava of Coca-Cola, with the Volts saying that they are very much open to a trade to get the 6-foot-9 behemoth.   However, Taulava still has a live pact with the Tigers until the end of next season and Meralco would not be able to tender him an offer sheet until then.   The same source said that Meralco is inclined to use the offer sheet to those with expiring contracts to back up Cardona with the players whom coach Ryan Gregorio feels would make the team competitive.   The highest paid player inherited by Meralco from the disbanded Sta. Lucia is reportedly Marlou Aquino, who is earning in the vicinity of P200,000 a month.   But Aquino’s contract is good for just one conference.