NLEX coach Yeng Guiao is willing to wait before starting talks for a possible trade for Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga.
In an interview with Malaya-Business Insight, Guiao said he would first see how Belga sorts it out with Elasto Painters management regarding a new contract before making any move to acquire the burly center.
“Pabayaan muna natin silang mag-usap. ‘Pag walang nangyari, then legitimately that (trade) can be pursued,” Guiao said.
“Pero sa ngayon hindi muna,” added Guiao. “We will let things move forward by themselves. Then we will see the results afterwards, kung may opportunity.”
Sources have told Malaya-Business Insight that Guiao has resumed his quest for another big man with Phoenix Super LPG’s Justin Chua and Belga making up his very short list, which initially included then Alaska forward Vic Manuel, drawn up even before the current season started.
Guiao admitted the Chua chase went nowhere when the Fuel Masters made the trade for Manuel, acquired before the season started, as their priority.
“Wala na iyon (Chua talks). Kasi parang na-overtake na kami ng trade nila for Vic Manuel. Kasi parang priority nila iyon,” Guiao said.
“Nag-attempt kami for Justin, pero… walang napagkasunduan, in the final analysis,” Guiao added. “I think in the meantime they were already negotiating the Manuel (trade).
Mukhang unang nagkasundo sila doon so tigil na ‘yung kay Justin. Parang ganoon ang pagkakaintindi ko.”
Phoenix traded Manuel to NorthPort last Nov. 5, which Guiao felt wrote finis to the Chua talks.
“I don’t think gusto rin nila (Phoenix) ng dalawang malalaking trade, so tumigil na sila doon. Kumbaga, natulog na tuloy ‘yung usapan namin.”
A source has claimed NLEX would be pursuing Belga if the Chua talks pan out, but Guiao insisted he would be crossing that bridge when it is declared open.
Belga is among those whose contracts expired last month but have been given automatic contract extension until the end of the year. Still, negotiations for a new pact with ROS have begun.
“As of now ayaw naming mag-indicate o makialaman kasi, in fairness, they’re negotiating at baka ma-accuse kami ng tampering,” said Guiao. “Pag nag-ne-negotiate sila tapos biglang may lalabas na kinukuha namin baka ako maputukan. ‘Nag-hold back si Belga sa negotiations namin kasi kukunin siya ni coach Yeng.’ Baka iyon ang sabihin. “So pabayaan muna natin silang mag-usap.”
Guiao did not deny, however, that Belga continues to be in their radar, more so now. “Open secret naman iyan, that we’re still on the lookout for a big man,” said the seven-time champion coach.
“Kasi maliit kami. Kulang kami ng pang-tapat kay (Greg) Slaughter, June Mar (Fajardo), kila (Christian) Standhardinger. Maski kila Ian (Sangalang) nahihirapan kami, so we were really looking for a big man,” added Guiao.
“Ngayon ‘yung Manuel wala na, ‘yung Chua wala na, so logically puwede ngayong tingnan ‘yung angle ng Belga. Actually, ini-explore din namin iyan before (the season started) kaya lang walang nangyari. So ‘yung speculation na iyan, that is just a continuation of our attempt to acquire these men.”
