MANILA, 14 December — Tanduay’s major pain is Ginebra’s major gain.
Fil-Am Eric Menk, who is arguably the best player in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), was sent by Tanduay to Barangay Ginebra in what many perceived as a shocking, if not a bizarre move.
Dubbed as “Major Pain”, the 6-foot-6 Menk was shipped by his mother ballclub to Ginebra in exchange for two players and two future first round picks in a blockbuster trade that is expected to turn the league’s most popular team into a legitimate title contender next year.
Menk has been Tanduay’s franchise player since breaking into the league three years ago and was also the cornerstone of the team in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).
Tanduay rejoined the country’s Premier League as an expansion team in 1999 and immediately made an impact with the presence of Menk and another Fil-Am in Sonny Alvarado.
But despite the talent of the two players, the franchise failed to capture a championship. So Tanduay management may have thought of a major trade as the major remedy – and that Menk has to go.
This marks the biggest trade in the league since the Johnny Abarrientos deal was consummated before the start of the year. Already a force to reckon with, the Allan Caidic-mentored Gin Kings welcomed the development that is sure to tilt the balance of the league.
One more thing is certain: Ginebra got the one player every team in the pro league would love to have in its fold.
Menk was swapped for streak-shooting Elmer Lago, the 1999 Most Improved Player, Fil-Italian center Alex Crisano and two future draft picks – the first major deal leading to the 2002 season of the PBA.
Quite naturally Menk was shocked after hearing the news, saying: “I’m a little bit down right now because no one likes to be traded.” But like a true professional he vowed to help Ginebra next season, saying: “I’ll pick up the pieces and help my new team.” So he’s looking forward to next season.
“I am joining the league’s most popular team – a good team which I hope to make better. I am looking forward to a good year in 2002,” said Menk.
The 27-year-old Menk, who made the Mythical second team on his rookie year, was barred from playing in the PBA midway last season because he had failed to satisfy the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) as regards to his claim for Filipino citizenship.
But last August, after more than a year of gathering evidence to prove his Filipino roots, Menk obtained a certificate of confirmation from the Department of Justice.
He, however, managed to play only five games in the Governor’s Cup after he was hobbled by a strained calf injury.
Tanduay camp said it wanted to rebuild its beleaguered team through the draft, although the trades only fanned speculation that it would be selling its franchise, likely after the 2002 season.
It also traded slasher Dondon Hontiveros to San Miguel for the hardworking Freddie Abuda, and 6-foot-9 Bonnel Balingit and 6-foot-6 Chris Cantonjos to Purefoods, the third San Miguel Corp. ballclub, for seven-footer Eduard Joseph Feihl.
Purefoods, however, immediately released Feihl to Ginebra for a future draft.
Hontiveros had been on San Miguel’s wish list since 2000, but it was Tanduay which got the 6-2 shooter in a buy-out deal with his former team, the Cebu Gems in the Metropolitan Basketball Association.
Except for Menk, all the players involved in the trade have a live contract and would automatically be honored by their new teams. Barangay Ginebra warmly welcomed the news of the entry of Menk in its fold.
And Caidic was clearly pleased.
“Who won’t be excited about getting probably the best player in the league? Eric will be a most welcome addition although we had to give up two players who we hope will respond like professionals.
“Finally, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Although Menk is certain to make the national team and we won’t have him in the first two conferences, that’s all right because he is now ours,” said Caidic.
Menk will give the Kings an awesome all-around player who is bound to bring an added dimension of intensity.
He will surely provided the inside power Ginebra has been lacking for so long, in addition to a solid defensive presence in the paint. So now, the Ginebra – a runner-up in this year’s All-Filipino but without a championship since 1997 – more than a legitimate center.
Menk can command the double in the post and can play defense as best as anyone in the league can, and this gives Ginebra the versatility it needs on both ends of the floor. With veteran Jun Limpot, who had one of his best seasons this year, veteran Vergel Meneses, rookie Mark Caguiao, Banjo Calpito, and the arrival of Menk and Feihl, Caidic will now have an intimidating frontline.
Menk’s contract with Tanduay, however, is expiring at the end of the year.
And his entry into the Ginebra fold may well trigger a revamp in its lineup due to salary cap constraints.
The problem is – that if it matters at all for Ginebra management – Menk will surely ask for a megabuck contract, something which Limpot and Meneses have got from the team. But generally speaking, Menk’s arrival has made the league’s most popular ballclub among its strongest on paper when the 2002 season begins in February.
Time to rebuild
Truly, Tanduay’s bold move signaled its ambitious bid to rebuild its roster through the rookie draft, which a wealth of local talent – like Renren Ritualo and Yancy de Ocampo – and an exciting roster of Fil-Ams are expected to join. The Annual Draft is scheduled for Jan. 13 next year.
Menk, who sat out a good part of the season due to the absence of confirmation papers from the Department of Justice and later injury, is one of seven Rhum Masters with contracts expiring on Dec. 31, the others being Jason Webb, Chris Cantonjos, Allan Yu, Wynne Arboleda, Victor Oliver Agapito and David Friedhoff.
Indeed, the trade created a stir within the ranks of the Lucio Tan franchise, resulting in the replacement of Lucio ‘Bong’ Tan Jr. as governor, by Nestor Mendones. However, Tan said he was just too busy to attend to the PBA.
At the same time, he justified the move saying he wanted to build a young, running team, pointing out that with the draft picks he gained, he could get some talented locals and exciting Fil-Ams.
Many see Tan’s move to ship his key players to SMC teams as a sort of spiting the league, which he had called “a San Miguel league” in an earlier quarrel with PBA officials. There were rumors that Menk’s entry to Ginebra, one of three PBA franchises owned by San Miguel Corp., was made to pave the way for his impending inclusion to the Philippine team that will compete in the Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea, next year. The national team to the quadrennial regional games will be handle by Ron Jacobs, consultant of Ginebra and San Miguel Beer. Menk is considered to be a shoo-in. Likewise, the Tanduay-Ginebra deal came amidst earlier reports that Menk was being sent to Talk ‘N’ Text. But the talks broke down and Menk himself indicated that he wanted out of Tanduay and play for Ginebra.
Reports said that he has not been happy with the way Tanduay management handled his citizenship problems.
Actually, there were talks about a trade or an offer sheet involving the Fil-American from Michigan after the Rhum Masters failed to advance into the quarterfinals of the Governor’s Cup.
There were talks that Menk might go to Talk ‘N’ Text after Fil-Tongan Paul Asi Taulava expressed his desire to leave the team. It was even said that Talk ‘N’Text was already preparing an offer sheet.
But the fact that he was dealt to Barangay Ginebra was shocking considering that Tanduay (Asia Brewery) and San Miguel Corporation are corporate rivals.
Disbandment
With the internal bickerings at Tanduay camp following the major trade, there were rumors that the team is either headed for disbandment or is on the verge of being sold. The trade ignited rumors that management has put its franchise up for sale and they have had initial talks with potential buyers, FedEx and Welcoat Paints.
FedEx and Welcoat Paints have long expressed their intentions to join the PBA bandwagon.
No less than Tanduay owner Lucio Tan Sr. is said to be entertaining the idea of offering the franchise in the market following the worsening Tanduay intramurals spawned by that shocking move to trade Menk and Company to the three teams of the San Miguel Corporation Group.
Even PBA Commissioner Jun Bernardino was caught by surprise.
“Of course, I was surprised because there was not much talk about it,” said Bernardino. “As a matter of fact, what I was hearing was the possibility of Eric Menk going to Mobiline. So Menk going to Ginebra really came as a surprise.” PBA executive director Sonny Barrios confirmed that the trades were consummated and the papers were forwarded to the PBA office.
Barrios said the deal was legal as far as the PBA is concerned “since the transaction has been perfected and forwarded to the PBA.” He said Tan and Purefoods’ Butch Alejo, San Miguel’s Jun Cabalan and San Miguel’s Bert Manlapit affixed their signatures on the trade papers dated Dec. 6.
Alfrancis Chua, the former Tanduay coach who once handled Menk and other Rhum Masters involved in the trade, believed the Rhum Master franchise will be up for sale.
“If Eric Menk is 42 years old, I guess that is rebuilding,” said Chua, now team consultant at Sta. Lucia Realty. “If Dondon Hontiveros is 39, then that too is rebuilding. If Chris Cantonjos is 40, then...But they’re all young, especially Dondon, who is one of the best shooters I’ve ever seen in the PBA.”
