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Harbour Centre out to keep PBL dynasty
(November 6, 2008)

Is the Harbour Centre dynasty in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) finally coming to an end?

Without the same cast that gave the Batang Pier their unprecedented fifth straight championship, expectations are not that great as before for a franchise whose name and reputation are synonymous to winning.

Gone are now pro players Jason Castro, a three-time league Most Valuable Player (MVP), former PBL Finals MVP TY Tang, fearless Solomon Mercado, shooters Jeff Chan and Jonathan Fernandez, bruising big men Beau Belga and Chad Alonzo and back up guard Al Vergara, who had been signed up by the Singapore Slingers.

Two existing league guidelines forced Harbour Centre to lent key players Dylan Ababou and Chester Taylor to Magnolia-UST as part of the PBL's adopt-a-school program while retiring veterans Alan Gamboa and Gilbert Malabanan under the 25-year old PBA age limit.

That left the team with only three carryovers from its champion squad that won a fifth straight title last June -- National University's Edwin Asoro and veterans Jerwin Gaco and Boyet Bautista - two returnees -- La Salle's Rico Maierhoffer and Reed Juntilla -- and a slew of rookies to count on when the the PBL PG Flex Linoleum Cup formally kicks off on Nov. 8 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

But true to the team's never-say-die spirit, franchise owner Mikee Romero, manager Erick Arejola and coach Jorge Gallent, architect of Harbour Centre's championship dynasty, remain confident the Batang Pier will still be as competitive and hardworking as they been always known.

"It's a complete rebuilding for Harbour Centre," Gallent said.

Added Arejola: "This season would be a test and a challenge for us."

Romero, also the current PBL chairman, said how his 10 rookies will adjust into the Harbour Centre system would be a major factor in the team's quest for a record sixth straight title.

The Batang Pier recently tied-up with Far Eastern University under coach Glenn Capacio, who will act as first assistant to Gallent, with old hand Junel Baculi remaining as team consultant.

"The adjustment of our 10 rookies to the way Harbour Centre plays would determine how the Batang Pier would fare this season," Romero said. "However, ang mga players naman namin once they began wearing the black and red Harbour Centre jersey, `yung never-say-die attitude always comes to life. Kaya yun ang aabangan ko."

The Batang Pier rookies coming from FEU are 2007 UAAP Rookie of the Year JR Cawaling, tough-playing point guard Mark Baroca, Benedict Fernandez, Paul Sanga and big men Riel Cervantes and Aldriech Ramos.

The rest of the newcomers are 6-foot-5 Fil-Am Nick Stephens from Holy Name University in Oakland, Raffy Reyes of University of the East, the La Salle duo of Bader Malabes and Peejay Barua and 6-foot-7 ACSAT center Erik Suguitan.

"This could be a tough season for Harbour," Romero admitted. "But hopefully, the old spirit of the team will rub off on to our rookies. As long as the new team plays like there is no tomorrow, good things will come into fruition."

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