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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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05
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04
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
05
04
2024
GLOBALPORT may just have gotten a much-needed edge in its match against Kia Tuesday at the start of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
A source on Monday said playing-coach Manny Pacquiao’s chief deputy, Glenn Capacio, has been replaced by Chito Victolero just days before the Carnival’s tournament opener against the Batang Pier.
“Management’s reasons will be divulged in due time, but for now, it will be coach Chito who will handle Kia,” said the team insider.
Capacio could not be contacted, but the source said the one-time GlobalPort tactician will also be issuing his own statement in the coming days.
Since Pacquiao acted as one of the judges in the Miss Universe tilt in Florida just the other day, he would also be not around as well as the inspiration and motivation he provides for his team.
Such unexpected developments within Kia should augur well for GlobalPort, which is aiming to go deeper in the playoffs this time and not just the first phase of the quarterfinals like it did in the recent Philippine Cup.
“We hope to play well against Kia and our import compliments our locals,” said Batang Pier interim head coach Eric Gonzales.
Imports should indeed play key roles.
That is where Kia has the edge since it has been given the green light, along with the other members of the bottom four in the season-opener, to field reinforcements of unlimited height while a ceiling of 6-9 has been pegged for the eight other teams, including GlobalPort.
At 7-foot-3, Peter John Ramos should have the edge over GlobalPort counterpart Calvin “CJ” Leslie.
The Puerto Rican national team mainstay, a second round NBA draft pick by the Washington Wizards in 2004, has honed his talent in his home country as well as the NBA D-League, Spain and Korea.
With such a wealth of experience Ramos is expected to carry the brunt on both offense and defense as the youth-laden Carnival bid to improve on their sorry league debut, when as the Sorento, they could only show a win in 11 games and wound up 11th.
Leslie, on the other hand, is a former North Carolina Wolfpack who is listed at 6-9 and has strutted his wares in the NBA D-League as well as Korea.
How the Batang Pier’s Terrence Romeo and the Carnival’s Reil Cervantes lead their respective team’s locals should also prove crucial. (NC)
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