Adducul puts bitter experience behind him

by Agnes R. Cruz

Adducul

MANILA: With playing for the Philippine national team bound for the Busan Asian Games already out of the question, Romel Adducul is now focusing his full attention on the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA). And he’s doing wonders there right now.

The 6-foot-6 MBA superstar has long sorted out things with the league and settled there for good after being prevented by officials from joining the tryouts conducted by national coach Jong Uichico for a chance to play for the national team in the regional competition.

Adducul knows it’s high time to settle old scores between him and the MBA.

Easily the biggest draw and most accomplished player in the MBA ranks, Adducul is currently playing as franchise player for his new team, the Pangasinan Waves, which is making a comeback in the league after a two-year absence.

The 2000 MBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) has already declined a spot in the national candidates’ pool for the Philippine team which will seek to end the country’s 40-year hunt for the Asian basketball gold it last won in 1962 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Adducul, who powered LBC Batangas to the MBA National crown last year, was prevented from playing in the national training pool since the MBA season collides with the PBA schedule.

Earlier, the MBA and the Batangas Blades had agreed to release and loan Adducul to the national training pool provided the team would be spared from paying his salary in the time he would be spending with the nationals.

The PBA was willing to shoulder a part of Adducul’s salary, but not his full monthly paycheck from the MBA, meaning the pride of Tuguegarao, Cagayan, would have to settle for a pay cut to pursue his bid for a spot in the Asiad team.

But Adducul declined a spot in the national candidates’ pool, saying he could not afford to make that sacrifice, citing his obligation to support his family as well as other financial concerns.

Adducul would have been among the top Asiad aspirants for the national team that will take part in the Asiad in September.

Easily the finest big man not playing in the PBA, Adducul said it was a painful decision to pull out of the national training pool which he had to make for the sake of his family.
PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino said: “I respect his decision.”

The cager reached the decision a day after Bernardino had convinced the MBA and Adducul’s team, Batangas, to release him to the national training pool although the agreement would have entailed a personal sacrifice from the cager.

The Blades had agreed to loan Adducul to the national candidates pool provided the Blades be freed from paying Adducul’s full monthly salary during his stint with the training pool.

Bernardino said the PBA was willing to pay a part of Adducul’s salary in the time he would be spending with the nationals, but not his entire 500,000 pesos monthly paycheck from the MBA.

That would leave the former San Sebastian star agreeing for a pay cut to pursue his bid for a spot in the Asiad team.

Adducul admitted to Bernardino that he could not afford to make that sacrifice, citing his obligation to support his family as well as other financial responsibilities.

“I could sense something in his voice. I could feel his desire to get a shot at the RP team and the pain of giving up the opportunity,” Bernardino said. “He said he hoped he would be given another opportunity to serve the national team in the coming years.”

Bernardino said Adducul wished the Philippine team all the best in its campaign to bring the Asian Games gold medal back to the country, which last won it in 1962.

“He was very professional about the whole thing. I told him he’s still young and also wished him all the best in his blooming career,” Bernardino said.

Emy Arcilla, team manager of the Hapee-RP Team B where Adducul was supposed to play, expressed sadness about the development.

“I am of the impression that the PBA is making the necessary moves to land Adducul in the RP pool,” Arcilla said.

He said that aside from the sponsorship of the team, Lamoiyan Corp. president Cecilio Pedro also volunteered to undertake financial consideration to address the plight of Adducul.

“I’m pretty sad about it. And I’m sad for the team. Romel would have been a great addition to the squad,” offered Arcilla. “Perhaps, he has a greater reason for declining the opportunity to rejoin the RP pool.”

Adducul, a veteran of the last three Philippine teams that won gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games, tried to join the PBA rookie draft last January but was unable to get his release from the Blades.

He told Bernardino he is looking forward to making the jump next year, after playing out the final year of his contract in the MBA.

Bernardino, at the same time, called on the nation to rally behind the national team in its quest for the Asian Games gold medal.

“I hope we’ll all be one in supporting the RP team in its quest to bring back the coveted gold medal,” he said.

So Adducul is now embarking on a new mission, that is to work wonders for the Pangasinan Waves.

The PBA has earmarked at least 20 million pesos for the formation, preparation and actual participation of the national team to the Asiad.

This was agreed upon by the members of the PBA board for as long as the pro league’s expenses do not exceed the budget used for its 1998 Asiad campaign in Bangkok.

Close to 24 million pesos was spent three years ago as part of the national team’s preparations, including its stint in the PBA Centennial Cup and an inter-state tour of US where the nationals went up against tough collegiate squads.

The PBA is spending more on scouting the opposition – a very crucial factor to win the elusive gold.

Likewise, the PBA said the coaching staff will work doubly hard on scouting, stressing that they will send people to spy on the maneuvers of the Filipinos’ opponents.*

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