Barroca signs three-year deal with B-MEG; Raymundo ponders future

Four-time Philippine Basketball Association MVP Alvin Patrimonio had to chase time Monday night for one important transaction.

Now team manager of the B-MEG Llamados, Patrimonio signed up Mark Barroca, the team’s rookie acquisition, hours before the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team left for China to represent the country in the Olympic qualifying FIBA Asia Championship.

Barroca plays point guard for the squad, but Patrimonio made sure the Llamados’ promising newcomer wouldn’t be left unsigned.

“Since magkalapit lang naman ang bahay nila, they’ve agreed to meet somewhere. Alvin lives in Cainta while Mark lives in Marikina, so Alvin made sure he will be able to sign up Barroca,” said B-MEG board governor Rene Pardo.

Pardo confirmed to InterAKTV that Barroca was signed to a three-year, maximum contract. He also explained the team had also made an extension offer to team captain Kerby Raymundo, who missed most of the action last season.

“We have already offered him a two-year contract extension with an option to renew after the Philippine Cup,” Pardo explained. “We’re using the Philippine Cup as a basis for his performance because the focal point of attention in the next two conferences are the imports.”

“Kerby said he will sit down with his family to talk about the offer.”

According to Pardo, last season’s chairman of the board, Raymundo is regularly practicing with the team now and is ready to prove his worth.

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk has signed up its four rookie picks in the coming PBA Draft.

Alaska Milk team manager Joaqui Trillo wrote in a text message that all newcomers – SMART-Gilas standout Mac Baracael, Eric Salamat, swingman Julius Pasculado, and frontliner Ariel Mepana – were each signed to a contract.

“We’ve given Baracael the maximum three-year contract for a rookie while we signed Salamat for two years,” said Trillo. “Pasculado and Mepana were given one year each.”

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