MAKE OR BREAK AGAINST PUERTO RICO FOR GILAS PILIPINAS
SEVILLE, Spain – Former Petron Blaze import Renaldo Balkman, Puerto Rico’s No. 1 player despite the presence of the NBA’s JJ Barea, says he wants to return to the Philippines someday and play in the PBA.
But PBA commissioner Chito Salud, who banned Balkman for life last year for choking teammate Arwind Santos during a game and shoving and disrespecting league and team officials, says, in not so many words, that he doesn’t think that would be a good idea.
“Let’s not go there,” Salud said Monday night here after the Gilas Pilipinas-Argentina game when asked whether he would consider lifting the ban on the seemingly contrite Balkman. “That’s not a place I want to visit.”
Balkman had told Filipino sportswriters Sunday after an 82-75 loss to Senegal in the FIBA Basketball World Cup that he harbors “no hard feelings” on anybody in the PBA and expressed his desire to return and play “if given a chance.”
Salud, who was having dinner outside a local pizzeria with PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio of Talk ‘N Text, Meralco Bolts governor Al Panlilio, Blackwater Sports team owner Dioceldo Sy and Happee Toothpaste owner Cecilio Pedro, gently closed the door however.
The former New York Knicks player, nonetheless, gets the next best thing to playing in front of PBA fans – a chance to again showcase his talent before them in an international setting since the game will be shown live on Philippine television.
Balkman played in only seven games with the Boosters before his emotional meltdown late in a game against the Alaska Aces triggered his banishment. He will lead Puerto Rico against Gilas Pilipinas and former Petron teammate June Mar Fajardo at 1:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Manila time) Wednesday at the Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo, with the stakes sky-high for both teams.
Tied beneath the Group B standings with three losses each, it is over the other’s ruined form that the return to contention could only take place, especially after Senegal, previously perceived as the weakest team in the bracket, stunned highly-touted Croatia Monday.
The fired-up Senegalese, led by the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 6-foot-11 center Gorgui Dieng, Barea’s teammate, face Argentina at 5:30 p.m.(11:30 p.m. in Manila) while unbeaten Greece meets Croatia
Puerto Rico is down to 10 players following injuries to Arroyo and Angel Vassallo. But they still have Barea and the explosive Balkman for Gilas Pilipinas to deal with.
“We’ll go all out to fight in every game, for every possession. We don’t think of must-wins because that will only distract us,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes.
“Before the tournament, we knew it’s going to be hard to reach the second round. But it’s still wide open. If we win our next two games, we’ll get there as well. But first we have to win this one.”
Over Renaldo Balkman and his wild demeanor and shaggy pony-tailed hair.
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