San Miguel Beermen Basketball Games Updates

Trade News: Gabby Espinas Shipped to Red Bull Barako

This is great news for the former NCAA MVP and former San Miguel Beermen Gabby Espinas. For two seasons, he was playing behind the shadows of superstars of talent-laden teams like the San Miguel Beermen before being traded to the Air21 Express.

Now that he is in the Red Bull Barako camp under coach Yeng Guiao, expect this young man to be given the minutes that he badly needed to show his basketball talent. If he blends well with coach Yeng's system, I will not be surprised if he becomes the future star of Red Bull Barako.

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RED BULL UNDERGOES REVAMP Acquires Espinas, 2 rookies; lets go of Robinson, 2 others

Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Wednesday, 10 September 2008

Red Bull has undergone a minor revamp, acquiring Gabby Espinas from Air21 through a trade and signing up rookie draftees Larry Rodriguez and Jeff Chan.

The Photokina Marketing basketball franchise has let go of Topex Robinson, Mark Andaya and Paolo Bugia but is keeping a firm hold on Rich Alvarez notwithstanding tempting trade offers for the young versatile basketball forward.

The Barakos had to give up their 2009 first round draft pick to beef up their frontline rotation with their acquisition of Espinas.

Coach Yeng Guiao said Espinas, at 6-foot-4, is not that big but he can compensate and match up with the power forwards of the other basketball teams with his inside skills.

“We’re almost complete with our acquisition of Espinas and the signing of Larry Rodriguez and Jeff Chan. The two remaining slots are being contested by Kiko Adriano, Paolo Hubalde and Al Magpayo,” said Guiao.

Robinson has left the franchise to join Purefoods even as Reed Juntilla faces possible revocation of his basketball contract for going AWOL (absence without leave).

As he requested, Robinson was given his release papers Tuesday, allowing him to negotiate with the team of his choice freely.

The Purefoods management and Robinson had prior talks with the Giants expressing their desire to include the former San Sebastian Stag in their guard rotation.

"It's a choice between Topex and (rookie free agent) Al Vergara. Wise money will be placed on Topex who's got a lot of positive attributes. He's a pesky guard who can defend the likes of Mike Cortez and Jimmy Alapag," said Purefoods basketball coach Ryan Gregorio.

However, Robinson's arrival came a little late, disallowing him to join the Giants in their trip to Qatar.

Juntilla may lose his two-year basketball contract with Red Bull for his sudden disappearance.

"He had that reputation in the amateurs but we still gave him a chance thinking he may not do that in the pros. But he's back to his old ways," said Red Bull basketball team manager Andy Jao.

"We've informed the Commissioner's Office and his manager of his case. Coach Yeng (Guiao) wants him out of the basketball team," Jao added.

Enlisted by Red Bull towards the end of the 2007-08 season, Juntilla had just been signed to a fresh two-year contract before his disappearance.

"He even asked for a cash advance then he's gone supposedly in Cebu attending to his girlfriend," said Jao. (NC)