Cardel wants ‘new faces’ as Terrafirma continues to build young core

Head coach Johnedel Cardel

MANILA, Philippines—Terrafirma ended yet another dismal conference after finishing with a sorry 1-10 record in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup, but the club is eager to just move forward.

Head coach Johnedel Cardel looks to the upcoming Rookie Draft to continue building his young core which could potentially bring them up from the dirge of the PBA.

Cardel said he is hoping that 2019 special draftee Isaac Go will be able to join them for the 2021 season while also looking at the prospect of Thirdy Ravena ultimately declaring for the PBA Draft.

“We need new faces so we’ll be able to compete and maybe get to the quarterfinals once and for all,” said Cardel in Filipino Wednesday. “Hopefully in the coming draft we can get the best amateur player.”

“We still don’t know if there’d be another special draft like last year, and if Gilas allows Isaac Go to play in the PBA then he’ll be able to return to us. Thirdy also, if he’ll be in the draft.”

Go was the first pick in the 2019 Draft that was set up for the Gilas players and Terrafirma already has the rights for the smooth shooting 6-foot-7 center.

Ravena, meanwhile, has yet to declare for the Draft as he decided to play in Japan’s B.League for 2020 with San-en.

Cardel added that the draft would be of optimum importance for them as most of his players have expiring contracts.

CJ Perez, Roosevelt Adams, Aldrech Ramos, Andreas Cahilig, JP Calvo, Joseph Gabayni, and Jeepy Faundo are the only ones who are with the team in the long run.

Nevertheless, an influx of new talent and the lessons from the Clark bubble are what Cardel’s holding on to turn his team around.

“We will learn from the mistakes we had in the bubble and if we’re going into the bubble again then we’ll know what to do,” said Cardel.