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AirAsia plans to return to Clark by January

By Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo

PHILIPPINES AIRASIA, Inc. is planning to return to Clark International Airport by January 2018, its President and Chief Executive Officer Dexter M. Comendador said.

“Initially, we scheduled it for around November or December… But there was a delayed delivery of the Airbus units, so it was moved to January,” Mr. Comendador said, referring to two Airbus 320 units, in an interview on Monday.

AirAsia started its Philippine operations in Clark, Pampanga in 2012. In 2013, it moved its hub to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 4 in line with reduced operations. It has since resumed domestic flights from Clark to Davao and Kalibo, but Manila remains its main hub.

“It’s going to be a primary base for us. We were born in Clark, we will come back,” Mr. Comendador added. “It’s useless to compete with PAL (Philippine Airlines), Cebu Pacific here… The (Manila) runway is very limited, and it has reached its peak capacity.”

The return to Clark comes ahead of the budget carrier’s plan to have 70 planes in 10 to 15 years. Mr. Comendador said AirAsia is looking to prioritize flights with high utilization in Clark, particularly flights to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia; Hong Kong; and Singapore.

ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING EFFORTS
AirAsia Foundation kicked off its anti-human trafficking initiative road show in Manila earlier this week, as part of its efforts to combat the global problem.

The budget airline will start training its front line personnel, such as cabin crew and ground attendants to recognize signs of human trafficking in passengers and to communicate possible cases to proper authorities.

“We’ve been receiving reports from the media and NGO workers that many people are being trafficked, and using our airlines,” Yap Mun Ching, executive director of AirAsia Foundation, told reporters.

AirAsia Foundation worked with US-based nongovernment organization (NGO) Airline Ambassadors International (AAI) to find out how United States carriers are tackling this problem. The initiative also received funding support from the US Department of State.

Ms. Yap cited a United Nations report showed 25% of persons trafficked in the world are from Southeast Asia.

The Philippines is also the only ASEAN country included in the Tier 1 category in the 2017 US State Department Trafficking in Persons Report. Being under the Tier 1 category means the government acknowledges the existence of human trafficking, has made efforts to address the problem, and complies with the minimum standards of the US legislation, Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.

“We feel that if we’re going to do something in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), we need to share best practices in the region and Philippines is the leader,” Ms. Yap said.

Nancy Rivard, AAI president and a retired crew member from American Airlines who has provided anti-trafficking training for airlines around the world, said more traffickers are using commercial airlines, including budget carriers, to easily move trafficking victims to “keep them powerless.”

Ms. Rivard said moving victims across countries is a strategy to further trap the victims in their situations, as they are without a support network and unfamiliar with the language and culture. Having illegal status in these countries where they did not obtain license to work also makes them afraid to go to law enforcement authorities.

Ms. Yap said that after the training of airline personnel, they will be coordinating with airport and immigration authorities in the Philippines to promote cooperation, as well as launching public awareness campaigns.

On-standby Belo high on Gilas team’s chances in SEA Games

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter

HIS STATUS in playing for Gilas Pilipinas in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games may still be uncertain, but Philippine Basketball Association star rookie Mac Belo is still very much committed to the national team and high on its chances in the regional biennial meet.

On-standby Belo high on Gilas team’s chances in SEA Games
Gilas cadet and PBA rookie standout Mac Belo still hopes he can make it to the team’s roster for the SEA Games but is nonetheless committed and high on Gilas’ chances. — ALVIN S. GO

Left out from the SEA Games roster because of a knee injury he suffered earlier this year, doctors recently gave the Gilas cadet the green light to compete but it came a tad too late as the official team roster had already been submitted to event organizers.

Gilas officials has been appealing to the SEA games committee to let Mr. Belo play for the team, in place of Carl Bryan Cruz who is still playing for the Philippines in the FIBA Asia Cup, but there is still no word yet if it has been granted as of this writing.

But just the same, the Blackwater star rookie has been practicing with the national team and is set to join Gilas when it travels to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the Games.

“It is still not sure if I will be able to play in Malaysia for the SEA Games but I’m staying in condition, practicing with the team, and I’m ready if they call me up for duty,” said Mr. Belo in an interview with BusinessWorld during the send-off for Filipino athletes for the SEA Games last week hosted by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission.

“Of course, there is a little frustration since my status is still uncertain but it something beyond my control. Despite that I’m still committed to the team and it has my full support,” the 24-year-old former Far Eastern University standout said.

Mr. Belo went on to say that Gilas should expect improved competition in the SEA Games, recognizing how other teams in the region have worked on their game.

“The other teams in Southeast Asia have improved in recent years and are being competitive. But that is not lost to us. We are looking at it as a challenge for us to improve our game as well and fine-tune the Gilas program moving forward,” he said.

With the Philippines acknowledged as the king of basketball in the region, Mr. Belo said there is pressure on their part to live up to it but he said the team is ready and will give its all come the competition proper.

“The pressure is there because we always take the gold but we accept that. Our mind-set is to be champions. We are young as most of the members of the team are cadet players but we are ready and I believe it’s going to be a good experience for us,” said Mr. Belo even as he expressed honor and pride in having been given the opportunity to represent the country in international basketball competitions.

In the list submitted by the Gilas think tank for the SEA Games are PBA campaigners Troy Rosario (TNT), Baser Amer (Meralco), Von Pessumal (San Miguel), Kevin Ferrer (Barangay Ginebra), Mike Tolomia (Meralco), Mr. Cruz (Alaska) and Almond Vosotros (free agent).

Also included are collegiate standouts Kiefer Ravena, Ray Parks and Raymar Jose, US collegiate player Kobe Paras and Filipino-German Christian Standhardinger. Coach of the team is Jong Uichico.

Legalization of marijuana to boost horticulture, local economy — governor

IN HIS State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Aug. 15 at the Provincial Capitol, Benguet Governor Crescencio C. Pacalso remarked that the legalization of the use of marijuana, and the concomitant legalization and the cultivation of marijuana plants (Cannabis sativa), will surely boost the local economy and confer benefit especially to those who know how to cultivate it. This was his reaction on reports that House Bill No. 180, or the proposed Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, was favored by apparently positive response from some members of the House of Representatives. — interaksyon.com

See full story on https://goo.gl/j79i8r

Philippines wins in SEA Games football opener

THE Philippine Men’s Under-22 team made it a successful debut in the 29th Southeast Asian Games late Tuesday night when it blanked Cambodia, 2-0, in Group B action.

Philippines wins in SEA Games football opener
The Philippine Men’s Under-22 team celebrates during its game against Cambodia late Tuesday night. — www.the-afc.com

Raymart Cubon and Kouichi Belgira provided the goals for the Philippine team as it finally won a game in the regional biennial meet since 2011.

Mr. Cubon got the scoring for the nationals after a goalless first half when he struck in the 51st minute with a header off a Jarvey Gayoso corner.

Gaining the upper hand, the Philippines put the pressure on Cambodia thereafter which proved to bear fruit as it got the latter scrambling on both ends.

The Philippine team, coached by Marlon Maro, sealed the victory with a second goal from Mr. Belgira in the 82nd minute by way of a free kick from just over 20 yards from which their opponents could not recover from.

The team, which joined Vietnam as early victors in Group B, hailed the victory as a “total team effort” and that it hopes to replicate such in the succeeding games.

In Group A, it was Myanmar and host Malaysia that struck first wins.

Next stop for the Philippines is Indonesia, which drew in its first game, today at the Shah Alam Stadium. Kickoff is set at 8:45 p.m. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Shakey’s to accelerate PHL store expansion

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter

SHAKEY’S Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc. (SPAVI) said it can exceed its full-year target of 20 store openings by the end of 2017, after it opened on Wednesday the 200th store under its portfolio.

Located at Paseo de Magallanes in Makati City, the newest branch is the 16th store SPAVI has opened this year and is slightly bigger than other Shakey’s branches with a total area of 560 square meters.

“The guidance we gave was at least 20 new stores (this year). I think at least it is safe to say now that we would exceed 20, whether we do 25 to 28 is still up in the air. Depende pa, we’re still negotiating the leases… definitely I’m happy to report that we could easily exceed the 20 new stores,” SPAVI President and Chief Executive Officer Vicente L. Gregorio told reporters after the opening ceremony for the new branch.

While SPAVI is keen on exploring markets outside Metro Manila, Mr. Gregorio said the company will not pass up opportunities to add stores in the metro. For this year, the company has already put up new branches in Ayala Vertis North, Visayas Avenue, and Roosevelt Avenue — all in Quezon City.

SPAVI also opened a branch in Iligan City earlier this year. Despite its proximity to Marawi City, the Iligan branch has exhibited positive results, according to the executive.

For its international expansion, Mr. Gregorio said the company is conducting  studies to identify the right market and the right local partner.

“Nothing solid in Asian markets. We would like to target markets that have good Filipino base. Also know that our concept or menu is Western… We know that other nationalities see this as an American comfort food. So that’s one advantage of the brand,” he said.

Asked how the avian flu breakout in some poultry farms has affected business, Mr. Gregorio said there is no impact yet.

“So far we haven’t seen any negative impact for the consumption of our chicken… Right when the incident was reported, we asked our suppliers inform us and provide us certificates that their products are certified free from avian flu. They don’t source from those areas,” Mr. Gregorio said.

He noted San Miguel Purefoods, which has earlier assured consumers of the quality of their products, is Shakey’s biggest chicken supplier.

SPAVI’s attributable net income for the second quarter dropped by 12.81% to P198.52 million, following a high base in the previous year due to election related spending as well as pressures from bigger competition in the market.

The company targets to book a double-digit growth at the top-line for full-year 2017, which Mr. Gregorio said is sustainable as they already recorded an 18% improvement for the first half to P3.38 billion.

“New stores will be a big plus, so combined same-stores growth and new stores will be our sources for growth. There might be contributions from our international store which we are opening one by September in Kuwait,” Mr. Gregorio said.

The opening of the Kuwait store is in line with SPAVI’s deal to put up at least 10 stores in the country in the next five years. The company also inked a partnership with Aljeel Capital LLC to open at least 10 stores in the United Arab Emirates market by 2022.

Shares in SPAVI shed 12 centavos or 0.96% to P12.4 apiece on Wednesday.

3 more areas declared red tide positive

MATARINAO BAY in Eastern Samar, and Villareal and Maqueda Bays in Western Samar have been added to the list of areas that tested positive for the red tide toxin, based on the latest laboratory results released by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Aug. 15. BFAR also said that the seven spots put on alert last week remain contaminated. These are:

3 more areas declared red tide positive

BFAR warned that all shellfish and alamang (Acetes sp.) from these areas are not safe for human consumption. Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs remain safe to eat, provided these are fresh and thoroughly cleaned before cooking. Red tide, according to BFAR, is a term used to describe all phenomena wherein the water is discolored by concentration of algae. The discoloration may not necessarily be red in color, but it may also appear yellow, brown, green, blue or milky, depending on the organisms involved. It may either be harmful or harmless. — BW

Starmalls income up 36% in 2nd quarter

STARMALLS, Inc. grew its attributable profit by 36% in the second quarter of 2017, as it experienced higher occupancy at its existing shopping centers alongside an aggressive expansion program.

In a regulatory filing, the company owned by Vista Land & Lifescapes posted a net income attributable to the parent of P502 million during the second quarter, higher than the P369 million it realized in the same period in 2016.

Revenues likewise jumped 26% to P1.36 billion, as the Villar-led firm continued expanding their leasable portfolio. This was driven by a 19% rise in rental income to P1.31 billion for the April to June period.

“The Company’s growth rate was robust as our expansion programs are already contributing to our financial performance in addition to the increased rental revenues from our existing malls brought about by favorable rental reversions and increased occupancy,” Starmalls President Jerry M. Navarete was quoted as saying in a statement.

For the first six months of the year, Starmall’s attributable profit stood at P985 million, 36% higher than the P719 million delivered in 2016’s January to June period. This follows a 36% climb in revenues to P2.72 billion for the first semester, driven by a 30% increase in rental income.

Starmalls ended the first semester with a total of 17 commercial assets under its network, with plans to ramp up expansion of malls within the company’s existing landbank. The company is also eyeing to tap Vista Land’s more than 600-hectare landbank in the country which has potential for commercial development.

“We remain optimistic about the retail industry’s outlook for the rest of the year, as we continue to see sustained growth in the disposable income of Filipinos due to sound Philippine macroeconomic fundamentals,” Starmalls Chairman Manuel B. Villar, Jr. said in a statement.

Originally incorporated in 1969 as Polar Mines and Development Corp., Starmalls has since changed its name and primary business to that of investment, real estate, and leasing. — Arra B. Francia

Residents of 5 Ormoc villages recommended for permanent relocation

THE MINES and Geosciences Bureau-Region 8 (MGB-8) has recommended to the Ormoc City government the permanent relocation to safer areas of residents from five villages directly affected by the 6.5 magnitude earthquake last July 5. MGB-8 Chief Geologist Valentin P. Narido, in his letter to Mayor Richard I. Gomez, identified the barangays as Tongonan, Lake Danao, Milagro, Cabingtan and Nueva Vista. Tongonan is one of the region’s richest villages, being host to the geothermal plants of Energy Development Cor. In the report, the MGB also said that “areas susceptible to landslides, especially those with reported tension cracks, are recommended to relocate to safer sites.” It also recommended that damaged buildings and infrastructures should not be used anymore, and “must have these evaluated by city engineers for proper recommendations,” and that “no house and buildings should be built on top of the fault,” or within 100 meters of the fault line. Mr. Narido said their report was undertaken in cooperation with the Environment Management Bureau (EMB), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, and six mining firms: Oceana Gold, Carmen Copper Corporation, Taganito Mining Corp., Platinum Group Mining Corp., Cebrian Geokunsult, Inc. and Adnama Mining Resources, Inc. MGB-8 representatives, along with the city disaster risk reduction office and the National Housing Authority, were scheduled yesterday to visit the red-flagged areas and put up markers indicating the fault lines and the extent of “no build zones.” The teams will also assess proposed relocation sites. — The Freeman

A resident of Brgy. Tongonan, Ormoc City is pictured during the distribution of initial non-food items in the aftermath of magnitude 6.5 earthquake on July 6, 2017. Photo from Ormoc City Government’s Facebook page (@OrmocLGU)

 

Milo, FC Barcelona partner for values-driven football program

FINDING a commonality in seeing children live better lives through a more healthy and active lifestyle, Milo Philippines and FC Barcelona have tied up for a four-year partnership geared toward their shared vision.

Milo, FC Barcelona partner for values-driven football program
Milo Philippines Business Unit Manager Willy de Ocampo speaks at the launch of their “Road to Barcelona” program with FC Barcelona yesterday. — MIKE MURILLO

Road to Barcelona, a selection camp that will scout for the next football champions, was officially launched yesterday by the two groups at the F1 Hotel in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

The program will see Milo help build the dreams of kids by providing them access to world-class coaching and venues with help from world-renowned football club Barcelona at its home of Nou Camp.

First announced last year, Milo and Barcelona are now setting things in motion to finally see their cause of inspiring kids to be physically active and healthy by way of sports through.

“We are proud and honored to have one of the biggest football clubs in the world share in our commitment to build champions through sports. It is our hope that this values-driven partnership helps build kids’ dreams and realize them through the Road to Barcelona program,” said Willy de Ocampo, Milo Business Unit Manager, of their partnership with Barcelona, which boasts of players like Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta.

“We’re inviting the passionate local sports community to be part of this four-year journey with FC Barcelona,” he added.

For this year, Milo Philippines will be sending a team of 10 kids to participate in an international training camp in Nou Camp.

Players to be selected, between the ages of 10 and 12 years old, will be chosen based on the right mix of values (60%) and skill (40%).

The criteria are aligned with Milo and Barcelona’s thrust of pushing for humility, effort, ambition, respect and teamwork in everything one does.

In connection with the program, a local selection camp will be held on Sept. 2 and 3 at the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig City where a pool of invited participants from different football communities in and around Metro Manila will undergo extensive training to be included in the official short list.

From the list, two deserving team members will be granted an all-expense-paid trip in recognition of their skills and values.

The remaining eight slots, who need to shoulder their own air fare and visa, will be chosen based on the local camp ranking system.

Deliberating on the performance of deserving young footballers will be an expert panel made up of officials of Milo, Philippine Football Federation, IGNITE Sports and coaches from FC Barcelona.

The group from the Philippines will take part in the four-day Milo-FC Barcelona camp in Nou Camp in October along with other participating Milo countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Columbia.

The program will be in effect for four years with organizers promising further improvements along the way. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Free tuition and irresponsibility

There are many reasons why the new law providing for free tuition for all students — rich and poor alike — in all state universities and colleges (SUCs) is wrong, but for this piece, we will limit them to only four arguments.

One, the government has no extra cash to cover extra spending on these already substantial expenditures. This means the deficit — which happens when revenues are lower than spending — that will require new borrowings will become bigger. The projected budget deficit rose from P353 billion in 2016 (during the Aquino government) and projected to rise to P482B this year to P524B in 2018, P576B in 2019 (see Table 1).

Free tuition and irresponsibility

Note that the deficit is based on the cash budget, “the actual deposits and withdrawals of cash of national government agencies from the Bureau of Treasury (BTR) for payment of current and previous year’s obligations.”

If the obligation budget, “the proposed amount of commitments that the government may incur or enter into for the delivery of goods and services in a fiscal year” is considered, the deficit will be much bigger: P923B in 2017, P927B in 2018 and P968B in 2019. The law calling for free tuition in SUCs — enacted in August 2017 while the proposed 2018 budget was submitted to Congress in July 2017 — would fall in the obligation budget.

Two, spending in public elementary and secondary education is still limited and it is unwise to further expand spending in public tertiary education.

Numbers below show that out of the 16 countries and economies (10 in the ASEAN, six in Northeast Asia), hiring of teachers in the Philippines was 2nd lowest in primary/elementary education, second only to Cambodia. In secondary education, Philippines was 3rd lowest, next to Cambodia and Myanmar (see Table 2).

Free tuition and irresponsibility

Three, students who are absolutely destitute do not reach university level. They drop out after elementary or after high school and start working, especially now with the K+12 years of pre-college schooling. So those who reach universities are lower middle class to rich students.

If one sees the cars and SUVs in the University of the Philippines and many other SUCs, one will wonder why these students are getting subsidies. Budget Sec. Ben Diokno even oppose this new law and said that this welfarist program alone will cost P100B/year — on top of existing deficit and high spending.

Four, people’s values will be corrupted because personal and parental responsibility will be assumed by the state. As a result, children’s education from elementary to university level will no longer be the responsibility of their parents but of the state.

Health care is already largely a state responsibility. Soon more parents will be drinking or partying or gambling more often because their children’s education will no longer be their responsibility.

Before you know it, proponents and supporters of this lousy free tuition law will demand that each student in SUCs should be given free laptops and free Internet access. Or that the monthly water and electricity bills of the poor be paid for by the state as well.

The number of free riders, irresponsible people, and tax-hungry bureaucrats and consultants, welfare-dependents and people pretending-to-be-poor will increase.

For any problem, their “solution” is more government, more “tax-the-rich” schemes. Then people will complain of massive wastage, inefficiency, and plunder in government. As government expands, stupidity and irrationality expands.

There are several remedial measures about this new law. One is that it can be questioned and rendered void at the Supreme Court for being anti-taxpayers, anti-fiscal responsibility.

Second, it can be replaced with a new law that will void or drastically revise it, like no free tuition for rich students in SUCs while extending limited subsidies to poor students in private universities.

Three, taxpayers should remember the main authors in the House and Senate and penalize them in the next round of elections.

As someone said: “A government that’s big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take everything you’ve got.”

Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the head of Minimal Government Thinkers and a SEANET Fellow. Both are members of Economic Freedom Network (EFN) Asia.

minimalgovernment@gmail.com

Strong condominium sales drive Rockwell Land earnings higher in Q2

EARNINGS of Rockwell Land Corp. jumped by 40% in the April to June period, driven by the strong sales of condominium units and higher revenues from its commercial segment.

Proscenium
The Proscenium

In a regulatory filing, the listed developer of high-end residential projects posted an attributable net income of P519.5 million, higher than the P363.8 million it booked in the same period last year.

Revenues were up by 60% from year-ago levels to P3.69 billion, fueled by the brisk take-up of condominium units which saw an 85% improvement for the quarter. 

Sale of condominium units soared 85% to P2.85 billion during the second quarter, from P1.53 billion a year ago.

The Lopez-led firm’s first half attributable profit stood at P1.04 billion, 47% higher than the P705 million it generated in the same period last year. This was driven by a 55% increase in revenues to P6.75 billion, as condominium unit sales surged 77% to P5.08 billion.

Rockwell Land’s residential component accounted bulk of revenues at 87% or P5.89 billion, followed by commercial properties which contributed P679 million.

Out of the P14 billion that Rockwell Land allocated for capital expenditures in 2017, P5.43 billion has already been spent primarily for the cost of The Proscenium, the first phase of which the company targets to complete and turn over by 2018.

The company noted capex spending for the first semester was slower by 10% year on year, where P6.02 million had been disbursed in the same period.

Capital spending for the year has been allotted to allow Rockwell Land to ramp up its leasable portfolio. The company plans to end the year with a total gross leasable area of 220,000 square meters, with the completion of Santolan Town Plaza in San Juan, Rockwell Business Center-Sheridan in Mandaluyong City, and the expansion of the PowerPlant Mall in Makati City.

Last July, the company launched its first high-end development in the Katipunan area in Quezon City called The Arton. The P9-billion project is being developed in partnership with Japanese firm Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd.

Also in the pipeline for Rockwell Land’s projects is the Aruga Hotel, a 200-unit serviced residences property in Rockwell Center. The company expects to complete the project by mid 2019.

The company’s first venture into resort developments in Mactan, Cebu will be launched in 2018.

Shares in Rockwell Land were unchanged on Wednesday at P1.79 apiece at the stock exchange. — Arra B. Francia

No. 1 pick in Draft is not NLEX’s main objective

HERE’S how a turnaround in performance could change your fortunes in getting the no. 1 pick.

No. 1 pick in Draft is not NLEX’s main objective
Players like Larry Fonacier is one of the few old timers who played for Yeng Guiao’s championship teams. — REY JOBLE

NLEX has a 70% chance of getting the top overall pick in the coming Rookie Draft, but the prospect of nabbing the best pick could slip out of its grasp with the way things are going in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

The Road Warriors have the second best record in the league, winning five of six games so far.

They have made a good run for the playoff right after defeating last season’s runner-up, the Meralco Bolts a few days ago.

NLEX is now one win away from securing an outright seat in the quarterfinal round.

But for head coach and general manager Yeng Guiao, getting the no. 1 pick in the coming Draft is the least of his concern now.

“Our goal is to fast-track the development of our team and enhance the maturity of this squad,” Mr. Guiao told BusinessWorld. “After two last place finishes, your objective is to make sure you’re going to see some improvement and we had shown some improvements this conference.”

Mr. Guiao believes the pool of players joining the Draft would be enough for them to get the additional players they will need.

“Let’s say we end up at no. 3, it is still OK for us,” he added.

The coming Rookie Draft is expected to be loaded with talented players as guys like Kiefer Ravena, Ray Parks, Jeron Teng, Fil-Am Devon Potts and Fil-German and Gilas naturalized player Christian Standhardinger expected to join.

REUNITED WITH OLD PLAYERS
First, JR Quiñahan. Second, Larry Fonacier. The latest one is Cyrus Baguio.

One by one, the old players of multi-titled mentor Yeng Guiao is coming back to his fold.

But Mr. Guiao, the head coach and general manager of the NLEX Road Warriors, clarified that he didn’t chase his old players for nostalgic case.

The fiery mentor welcomed these players who won championships with his previous teams, to be an integral part of a young, rebuilding squad like the Road Warriors.

“It wasn’t planned. It was coincidental,” said Mr. Guiao who will be reunited with Mr. Baguio for the first time since they were together in one team with Powerade Pilipinas, the country’s representative to the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship.

According to Mr. Guiao, the original plan was to allow the Road Warriors’ young players to undergo a process.

For two conferences, Mr. Guiao, who is in his first full season with the Road Warriors, tried to do it the natural way, but the team got eliminated early.

“We tried to do it the natural process, but we were not successful, so the next thing we did is find the pieces, players who are already more experienced to help the young players to grow,” added Mr. Guiao.

Mr. Guiao said Mr. Baguio, who was acquired recently by the Road Warriors in a trade involving Mac Baracael, Dylan Ababou and NLEX’s 2020 second round draft pick, and the other veterans like Messrs. Fonacier, Quiñahan and even Asi Taulava, the oldest player at 44 years old, don’t have many more playing years left.

“They were brought in to mentor the young players,” he added. — Rey Joble

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