PBA: TNT KaTropa’s Ricky Vargas OK with Yeng Guiao’s comments

By Waylon Galvez

TNT KaTropa governor Ricky Vargas says he sees nothing wrong with the statement made by NLEX mentor Yeng Guiao regarding the proposed trade that would send Road Warriors center Poy Erram to the KaTropa.

“Naintindihan ko naman si Yeng,” says Vargas after the PBA press briefing for the 45th PBA Season Tuesday at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.

“Hindi naman siya nagsasabi na something negative about the trade. He (Guaio) just feels for Erram, kasi nakasama niya yan, and I understand what he’s saying,” he added.

Vargas was referring to the comments made by Guiao following reports of a three-team trade in the works with Erram ending up with TNT – a sister team of NLEX.

“Wala ako masabi diyan kasi ako ayoko i-trade si Poy, as of now. Wala pa akong masabi. I think, it’s not at my level so I cannot comment on it,” said Guiao, on his third season with NLEX.

Vargas says he respects Guiao’s comments.

“I did not think there was anything wrong in what coach Yeng said, he’s just being very honest about how he feels and we respect that, we respect his honesty and his wisdom and what he has said,” Vargas says.

“I don’t think that he said anything against management.”

The league’s trade committee, headed by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, has yet to approve the proposed deal with Anthony Semerad going to NLEX, and Ed Daquioag and Marion Magat joining Blackwater with future picks involved.

Vargas says they’re hoping to get an approval soon since chemistry would be a concern once TNT gets the services of the 6-foot-9 Erram.

“That’s a possibility that they reject it, there’s a possibility they accept with some changes. But my experience with the trade committee is they have not disapproved any trade, they just improved on the trade on how they view it as fair to everybody,” says Vargas.

“Gusto sana naming matapos agad e, pero we were patient and we need to follow the rules. As a professional leagues, and as Talk ’N Text we value going through the process so that’s important to us.”

He adds: “One of our biggest challenges at TNT as it is now is building chemistry, building teamwork, and everybody being on the same page. If Poy comes to us finally, he has to… the more time we wait the less time for him to be integrated with the team. So we await for that moment, sana sooner the better.”

Source: Manila Bulletin