THE 6’9” veteran Marlou Aquino signed a one-conference contract with Meralco Bolts B-Boys, while 6’4” Jerwin Gaco also forged a contract with the B-Meg Derby Ace for the 36th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup on Oct. 3 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Aquino, who will turn 38 on Oct. 10, will be playing for his 14th season with the PBA, the fourth oldest after Johnny Abarrientos, Olsen Racela and Jeffrey Cariaso.
“He can still extend his career. But it will also depend on him. If he plays good and practices hard, surely we have a spot open for him,” said Meralco Bolts team manager Virgil Villavicencio.
Abarrientos now works as a skills coach for Ginebra, while Cariaso opted to retire after the 35th season of the PBA.
Racela, on the other hand, still wants to play for another year with the San Miguel Beermen to become the only player in active duty at 40 years old. Only four players so far achieved a similar feat; they were Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben and Yoyoy Villamin.
“Maybe, Marlou can also achieve that because right now he is very enthusiastic,” added Villavicencio.
Best rookie
The Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan-born Aquino was a Best Rookie awardee after being drafted first overall by Ginebra in 1996.
Meralco, which bought the franchise of Sta. Lucia Realty, likewise gave at least one-year contracts to rookies Bam Gamalinda, Ford Arao and Kazim Mirza. Sean Weinstein, the No. 10 pick in the recent annual rookie draft, was given a longer tenure of two years last Monday.
“I think we’ve formed a fighting team. We’ll be there fighting in each game,” stressed Villavicencio of the Meralco Bolts, which also got top shooter Macmac Cardona from Talk ‘N Text and Beau Belga from Air 21.
Cast
Completing the cast are former Realtors Gabby Espinas, Dennis Daa, Chris Ross, Pong Escobal, Ogie Menor, Yousif Aljamal and Bitoy Omolon.
Head coach Ryan Gregorio ranked the B-Boys as sixth seed behind San Miguel Beer, Talk n Text, B-MEG Derby Ace, Barangay Ginebra and Alaska Milk.
Meanwhile, in its effort to bolster its campaign in the forthcoming 36th season, the B-Meg Derby Ace signed up Jerwin Gaco to make up for the absence of Kerby Raymundo and Marc Pingres due to injury.
The 6’4” forward Gaco, who last played with the Barako Coffee, was the choice of head coach Jorge Gallent, whom he was acquainted with during his stint as coach of Harbour Centre.
Gallent, who replaced the resigned Gregorio as head coach of the Llamados, is also eyeing Rommel Adducul and Pick Pinnissi of San Miguel Beer, but needs a conduit to formalize the acquisition.