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Friday, January 24, 2003
Wainwright, Crisano, Helterbrand jobless
By Patrick C. Costelo
AS NEW Fil-foreigners start filling the team rosters with juicy deals, Alex Crisano, Rob Wainwright and Jayjay Helterbrand may pack their bags soon, ending a happy life as pampered pro cagers after a stroke of ill-fate thumped their Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) careers.
The two ex-MBA hot shots – Crisano and Wainwright – were dropped like hot potatoes by their respective teams, Shell and Sta. Lucia, after asking for a wage increase in their contracts.
Crisano and Wainwright both turned down P150,000 per month offers – a decision both may regret for the rest of their careers – and tested the waters by offering their services to other teams. They found no takers.
Crisano was earning not less than P300,000 a month in his previous deal but Talk N Text could only offer him P150,000 this time. A Talk N Text insider said the team was hesitant to give more than P150,000 a month for a player who will just be Asi Taulava’s back-up playing eight to 10 minutes a game.
The former Pangasinan Wave discovered what would be the greatest horror in his career after losing his spot in TNT – his only consolation a measly P15,000 paycheck as practice player.
Wainwright, who was junked by Shell after refusing the latter’s offer, tried his luck with Purefoods. A reliable source, however, said it was unlikely he’ll get to play with the Hotdogs.
TNT head coach Paul Woolpert now has a complete 12-man roster with Taulava, Mark Telan, Vic Pablo, Christian Nicdao, Long David, whom TNT acquired from Sta. Lucia for Crisano, Norman Gonzales, Bong Ravena, Patrick Fran, Donbel Belano, and rookies Harvey Carey, Jimmy Alapag and William Kahi Villa.
Barangay Ginebra initially offered Helterbrand for Fran in a possible trade but the TNT management declined. With no one wanting the other half of the Kamikaze Kids, Ginebra just released the 5-foot-10 guard to the free-agent pool. Agent Bill Rosmario told Ginebra officials that Helterbrand is contemplating on returning to the US.
(January 24, 2003 issue)
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