JUN LIMPOT, left, says his team is ready for 1997 season. (Aaron Favila)

On the morning of the day Dennis Espino and Sta. Lucia Realty came to terms on a five-year package worth no less than P21 million, Zandro Limpot sat unobstrusively at the Realtors's East-Mall office and quietly placed some calls. Oblivious of the buzz of activity swirling around him including what turned out to be the most delicate part of Espino's contract negotiations - Limpot kept to himself. Later, however, he opened up and talked about his team, his new coach and, of course, Espino. How's the team's preparation going so far? "Maganda, maganda ang takbo ng ensayo," he replied. "Kaunting adjustment pa ang kailangan, pero maayos ang response ng team sa bago naming head coach." The Realtors, Limpot said, are still using the drills taught them by Tierra prior to the hiring of Chot Reyes, but are slowly being introduced to the former Pure Foods coach's own system.

"Mas binibigyan ni coach ng emphasis yung speed dahil batang team kami at nandoon ang strength namin." Asked how he was relating to Chot Reyes, who handled Ateneo when he was still playing for La Salle, the two school teams being the bitterest of rivals, Limpot demured but said the coach was welcomed by the Realtors. "Noong ibinalita sa'min na si Chot na nga ang papalit, wala namang naging hindi magandang reaction from the players dahil maganda rin naman ang pinanggalingan niya as a coach."

"In fact, sabi ko nga `marami rin namang championship siyang dinaanan kaya bakit hindi natin i-try?' Basta ang bottom line lang naman diyan ay kung ano ang sabihin niya sa laro, dapat sundin ng players dahil isa lang naman ang objective namin lahat...ang manalo." Did the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry create any concern in your part? "Wala, wala," Limpot said, "kasi naka-adapt na ako doon sa tinatawag nilang professionalism. Kung trabaho mo yan, kahit sinong nandiyan, gawin mo lang ang dapat mong gawin. Kung anong meron diyan, yan ang trabahuhin mo, tapos." Limpot disclosed he and Reyes had a heart- to-heart talk a couple of weeks ago, and there he assured the former coach of his alma mater's most bitter UAAP rival of only his 100 percent every night.

"Basically, pinag-usapan namin kung papa'no lalong mapapaganda yung laro ng team. Kinuha niya yung opinion ko," Limpot said. "Sinabi ko rin sa kanya na wala siyang magiging problema sa'kin; na siya ang coach namin at siya ang susundin at rerespetuhin ko." What about the Dennis Espino case? "Masyadong personal yan dahil sila lang ang nag-uusap ng management kaya medyo mahirap mag-comment," Limpot said. "Ang masasabi ko lang, as much as possible, kung magagawang mag-stay si Dennis sa Sta. Lucia, mas maganda."

Despite reports that one of the reasons Espino wants out is because of little playing time? "Malaki nga ang naging playing time niya e, lalo na noong na-injure ako," said Limpot. "Madalas nga, siya ang first five at off-the-bench lang ako. Pero wala namang problema yon. "Sabi ng management, franchise player daw ako. So dapat lang gampanan ko yung responsibilidad na ibinigay sa'kin. Kaya wala akong pakialam kung ano man ang sasabihin ng ibang tao dahil ginagawa ko lang naman ang trabaho ko." Limpot said, however, he wouldn't mind playing second fiddle to Espino if the circumstances so warrant. -TITO TALAO

February 03,1997
Siegle going up against PBA giants.

February 02,1997
Alaska-Mobiline setto opens 23rd PBA season

January 31,1997
Manager claims Arab team wants EJ Feihl.

January 30,1997
Espino, Sta. Lucia to ink 5-year, P20-million pact.

No deal that became big deal.

January 29,1997
Sta. Lucia to Espino: 'Sign now or sit out 1997 PBA season'.

January 26,1997
Siegle fans disappointed.

January 25,1997
Siegle-led Mobiline completes lineup.