Membrere can’t join Eagles in Red Bull nest


BY JOEL ORELLANA, The Manila Times Reporter

This Blue Eagle has to look for a different nest.

Red Bull, which has become the home of Ateneo de Manila University alumni in the pro league for the past three years, won’t offer Magnum Membrere a contract after the deadline for tendering offer sheets to draft picks expired Friday.

Bulls head coach Yeng Guiao said the team is willing to give the 5-foot-11 southpaw guard a chance to scrimmage with them but did not guarantee anything.

"We will just give him a chance. If any team wants to get his services, he is very free to try out. Right now, he is practicing with us," said Guiao of their lone draft pick in the recent Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft.

"Our problem is our off-guard position is already filled, with Cyrus Baguio, Junthy Valenzuela and Larry Fonacier rotating for that spot. But if he can give us another dimension, like playing a point guard, then we might have a place for him," Guiao added.

Red Bull, champion in the Fiesta Conference and runner-up to Purefoosd Chunkee in the Philippine Cup, has Topex Robinson and Celino Cruz at point guard, with Warren Ybanez as a standby playmaker.

Membrere, who was a teammate of Bulls mainstays Enrico Villanueva, Richard Al-varez, Larry Fonacier and Paolo Bugia on the Blue Eagles, was selected 19th overall in the draft.

A knee injury slowed him down in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines while playing five years for Ateneo.

But Guiao said the former San Beda Red Cub will be on the Red Bull roster in the PBA’s preseason games, along with the come-backing Alvarez and Omanzie Rodriguez.

"We’ll give him a chance in the preseason. Right now, we’re complete and we’ll be bringing in an intact team in the coming season," said Guiao.


WHY DID RED BULL DRAFT HIM IF THEIR OFF GUARD ROTATION IS ALREADY FULL?

Comebacking Alvarez? Was Rich injured?

Please clarify. Thanks!

Rich is recovering from an injury, he suffered late in the play-offs in the PBA AFC. I'm not sure if it was an arm or hand injury.

Red Bull took a gamble on Magnum even though they were already stocked at the off guard spot because of their good track record of drafting Ateneans.

Magnum didn't lose out on anything by being drafted by Red Bull. He was the 19th pick in the draft (2nd to the last). Besides he still has an outside chance of cracking the Red Bull line-up. At the very least Magnum was spared from the ignominy of not being drafted on draft night. Allowing Magnum to try-out for other PBA teams is the best thing Red Bull could have done for Magnum short of signing him.

I heard or read from somewhere that Red Bull did indeed sign up Magnum for a 1 year contract, however, he will begin the season in the reserve list (this is an assumption since he's currently not in Red Bull's lineup). Can anyone confirm? Thanks

damn, Tugade traded to SMB. Theoretically give's Magnum playing time .. lets see what happens

Tugade was traded to smb coz redbull wants to be the first to choose in the draft pick next year...rumor has it that they are rooting for intal which happens to be an atenean

Magnum Membrere has been signed by Red Bull and has officially played his first PBA game with them yesterday, against Purefoods. He debuted with 4 points on 2 for 2 shooting from the field.

I guess his ABL career would have to be put on hold indefinitely .

sayang talaga! i was on the road, and had to content myself with listening to the radio coverage. coach yeng did not utilize the raging bull enrico too much, but then he didn't need to -- they won by 20 points! the commentators said enrico was just dancing on the sidelines as trey after trey from larry and mick pennisi just kept falling right through.

i would've wanted to see him play once again. last time i did, he was with harbor center visiting in the leagues down south.

this is definitely a welcome development. good luck, magnum! we'll be watching this red bull-blue eagle development eagerly.

it's nice to see magnum play once again...hay mapupuno yata ang redbull ng blue eagles eh.