Welcoat signs up Belasco

By: Rey Joble
People's Journal
September 25, 2007

Veteran forward Nic Belasco isn’t going anywhere.

Welcoat made sure about that yesterday as it reached an agreement with the veteran forward to help shore up its frontline and boost its campaign in the coming PBA season.

Belasco agreed to sign a two-year, P8.4 million pact with the Dragons, giving coach Leo Austria a chance to form a tall and formidable starting unit that could give every PBA team a run for its money.

This development was a stark contrast to what transpired the past few days with Belasco and Welcoat management having difficulty agreeing on certain terms, forcing the team to look for trade options.

Last week, the names of Mike Holper and Macky Escalona cropped up as possible trades for Belasco, but when the seven-time champion showed up at the office of Yu, the atmosphere became different.

“It was a smooth negotiation process,” Welcoat co-owner told People’s Tonight. “It was a lot different from the one we expect. In person, I find him more professional and a gentleman.”

“Now we’re all ready to compete.”

Belasco will join top rookie overall pick and buddy Joe Devance and Jay-R Reyes up front in forming what is easily one of the best big men combinations.

Belasco will be one among the seasoned players set to provide leadership in an inexperienced Welcoat squad.

Another player reportedly set to sign for Welcoat is 6-3 forward Estong Ballesteros and returning guard Ron Dulay, who also played for the Paintmasters in the PBL.

Meanwhile, the PBA Board goes to Macau to discuss several issues.

Expected to be tackled are the budget needed for the coming season, reversion to an old format and schedules of the tournament.

But the formation of a committee that will select a new commissioner is high on the overall agenda of plotting the league’s future when the PBA board convenes for its first official meeting this coming season.

Eight of the 10 governors and Interim Commissioner Sonny Barrios leave today for the former Portuguese colony for the Sept. 26-27 meeting devoted mostly to
“directional topics.”

Although most of the items on the agenda are for the future, Chairman Tony Chua of Red Bull said some of the topics are meant to stabilize the league’s present base.

“Siyempre we cannot afford to overlook the league’s foundation and we hope to solidify that in our meeting,” said Chua.

Foremost in the mind of the Board is to find a permanent commissioner.
Barrios related that four of the five members of the selection committee have already been identified, with the last to be tossed to the other governors for their respective suggestions.

“For sure, (PBA) executive committee members (chairman) Tony Chua, (vice-chairman Joaqui Trillo and (secretary) Robert Non are already in, with (former chairman) Ricky Vargas as the fourth member of the selection committee,” said Barrios.

The committee will initially lay down the criteria to be used in picking the new commissioner.