By Nelson Beltran


Kerby Raymundo

MANILA, Philippines - Purefoods stalwart Kerby Raymundo, the best performer among the big men in the national team in the Tokushima Fiba championship two years ago, may beg off from playing for the PBA-backed RP squad to the SEABA championship because of conflict in schedule with his ballclub.

The 6-foot-6 center-forward yesterday told PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios he’s having a hard time attending practices of both the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants and the national team.

“He’s concerned how to go about two commitments, thinking he may become liability for both his club team and the RP team in the end,” said Barrios. “I told him to give me a few days, I may come up with a decision.”

Raymundo has also discussed the matter with RP team coach Yeng Guiao with the former telling the Purefoods mainstay to seek out the commissioner’s stand on the issue.

Guiao is confident Barrios will find a way to ease Raymundo’s predicament.

Apparently, the Giants are now undergoing hard training under coach Ryan Gregorio in preparation for the PBA Fiesta Conference opening Feb. 28 in Dumaguete. The training is seemingly taking its toll on Raymundo, who, together with teammate James Yap, also works out with the national team.

If ever, Raymundo’s absence would be a big blow to the RP team cause.

Earlier, the RP team’s preparation for the SEABA tourney hit a snag with the cancellation of its supposed mini-series against the SBP developmental team and a Puerto Rican club team slated Feb. 21-24.

The Nationals are competing in the SEABA championship in March in pursuit of a ticket to the FIBA Asia championship in China in August.

With the cancellation of the Puerto Rico games, the Nationals will compete in SEABA without any practice games except those in the PBA All-Star Week set right before the Asian qualifier.


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