THE NLEX Road Warriors want to make room for bruising free agent frontliner Mike Miranda and comebacking guard Ronjay Buenafe.

Mr. Miranda caught the fancy of head coach Yeng Guiao while working out for the team and the veteran coach expects him to be a valuable contributor in the team’s coming campaign.

The 6-foot-5 center/forward will fill the spot vacated by Enrico Villanueva, who just retired at the end of the season.

“For somebody who was used sparingly, Mike has been playing well for us. He will take over the spot of Rico who just retired,” said Mr. Guiao. “I think he will play a big role for us considering the fact that Asi (Taulava) is already retiring, JR (Quiñahan) is not getting any younger and Raul (Soyud) still needs more exposure.”

But Mr. Miranda isn’t the only one expected to be inserted in the squad.

Ronjay Buenafe, Mr. Guiao’s long-time player, had also inked a one-year deal, according to his agent, Danny Espiritu.

Mr. Buenafe is coming off an MVP season in the Marikina City Basketball League while playing for Hobe Bihon-Macway.

Mr. Guiao, who won a championship with Mr. Buenafe in 2012 with Rain or Shine, is excited on the prospect of reuniting with his old ward, but reiterated the partnership will only happen if he agrees to the term given by the Road Warriors management.

“If he won’t accept his offer, he’s free to explore,” said Mr. Guiao. “But the chances of him cracking the roster is big. It’s up to him.”

So far, Mr. Buenafe will have to contend with the rest of the 19 players in the squad, which hopes to crack the 14-man lineup.

Hobe Bihon-Macway team owner Bobby Co said his team has become a breeding ground for future players who want to make it to the PBA as well as ex-pros who want to get their way back to the pro league.

“We’re happy Ronjay became part of our organization. We’re happy to see him making his way back to the PBA thru Hobe Bihon-Macway,” said Mr. Co.

KG CANALETA, REY GUEVARRA FIND SELVES ENDING UP WITH NEW TEAMS
We haven’t seen the last of multiple slam dunk champions KG Canaleta and Rey Guevarra.

Yes, the two high-flyers have found themselves inking new deals with new teams in time for the PBA’s 43rd season.

Their agent Danny Espiritu confirmed this to BusinessWorld in a telephone interview.

“They were given short-term deals, but they are good deals,” said Mr. Espiritu, a long-time agent who manages more than 80 players.

Mr. Canaleta was signed up by Meralco to a one conference deal worth P350,000 a month.

A five-time slam dunk champion, the 6-foot-6 Canaleta is one among the dependable swingmen to every team he has played for. He was a part of the 2010 Purefoods champion team.

Mr. Guevarra is a three-time slam dunk champion.

A third overall draft pick in 2010, the 6-foot-3 athletic swingman from Letran, was one among the three traded to Petron Blaze in 2011 where he won a championship.

Since then, Mr. Guevarra bounced in and out of the league playing for Powerade, GlobalPort, Meralco where he spent several years as a reserved player and later on, Mahindra/Kia Picanto.

This time, Mr. Guevarra is reunited with Louie Alas after he agreed on a deal to play for the Phoenix Fuel Masters. — Rey Joble

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR