After the PBA vetoed a controversial trade that would have sent Powerade’s Marcio Lassiter to Petron, Tigers coach Bo Perasol said that he doesn’t want the team to pursue any more transactions involving the star rookie or any other players.
“I don’t want to trade Marcio or any other player,” said in Perasol in a telephone interview. “Mas magandang wala munang galawan.”
Perasol made the statement in light of the news that no sale had been consummated between Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc., which owns the Powerade franchise, and San Miguel Corporation. After the PBA Board of Governors held a meeting to discuss the issue, Powerade’s newly-appointed representative to the board, Ronald Asuncion, made a pronouncement that the team will be staying in the league.
“We intend to stay in the PBA. There’s no specific time as to how long we’re going to stay, but we will stay as long as it takes for us to win the championship,” said Asuncion.
PBA commissioner Chito Salud cited the trade’s negative effect on the balance of the league for the veto. Lassiter emerged as one of the best players in the league in his debut tournament, finishing third in the Philippine Cup in statistical points, while Baclao and Guevarra have been second-stringers for Petron.
Earlier, Perasol defended his support for the trade, saying that it was management decision and adding that he and the Tigers coaching staff were consulted on the move.
Powerade began its Commissioner’s Cup campaign with an emotional victory over Rain or Shine last Friday. Prior to the Lassiter trade proposal, the team had high hopes heading into the tournament after signing up rebounding monster Dwayne Jones to reinforce the squad and fill its frontcourt void. Jones lived up to the billing in his first game, scoring 34 points and 21 rebounds.
Source: Reynaldo Belen, interAKTV
