NEGRENSE pro basketball standout Mark Yee is one of two players who have been traded to Talk N Text starting with the Fiesta Conference in exchange for hotshot Ren Ren Ritualo and slotman Yancy De Ocampo.
Yee was a former varsity star of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, and had been seeing action for Air 21 in the last two conferences of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Yee, who saw action for powerhouse Ticel Corporation during the 2008 Negros Basketball Association (NBA) Governor Isidro Zayco Open Invitational Tournament won by Ticel, will be shipped to Talk N Text along with slotman JR Quinahan for them to suit up for their new team starting March 21.
Yee confirmed the news Friday although he said the deal will be made official after the Coach Yeng Guiao-mentored Air 21 quintet returns from its three-day tournament in Dubai this weekend where they will face the Coca Cola Tigers and other teams that are parading three imports each.
Sources said the movement of Yee to Talk n Text means that former Ateneo Blue Eagle Wesley Gonzales can now shine brighter in the three spots alongside import Larry Hicks.
NBA presieent Oscar “Dodong” Bascon on Friday told Sun.Star he greeted the transfer of Yee to Talk n Text “very positively.” “That’s good news for Negros basketball,” Bascon enthused.
Yee, together with former UNO-R teammate Rhagnee Sinco and Leo Bat-og as well as ex-West Negros University Mustang Roel Balgos added to the offensive might and muscle of PBA stars Kenneth Duremdes, Tonyboy Espinosa and Alaska Aces Reynel Hugnatan who led Ticel to its championship victory over the all-varsity lineup of the WNU Mustangs.