Blackwater head coach Ariel Vanguardia feels excited to have a ‘deadly scorer’ at his disposal, as Rey Suerte is likely to join the ball club soon.
The veteran mentor disclosed that he has been in awe of the 6-foot-3 guard’s gunslinging ways during his one-and-done stint with University of the East in the UAAP Season 82. There, Suerte earned Mythical Team honors.
“Sa UAAP, nakita ko naman na deadly scorer,” he told Tiebreaker Times, Tuesday. “‘Yun ‘yung talagang nag-stick. Maganda ‘yung range. And, dumedepensa rin.
“Magandang complement to our squad.”
Suerte became eligible to join the Bossing when he and his fellow Gilas draftees from the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft were no longer kept by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas following the end of their contracts last January 31.
He was taken by the Dioceldo Sy-owned franchise with the second pick in the special round, chosen after Terrafirma’s Isaac Go and ahead of Matt Nieto (NLEX), Allyn Bulanadi (Alaska), and Mike Nieto (Rain or Shine).
Negotiations between him and the team have yet to take place, but the management vowed that they will sign the 27-year-old.
“Wala pa kaming napagkaka-sunduan, but we will sign him definitely ASAP,” team official Jacob Munez wrote in a short message,
And Vanguardia does not see any issues arising in relation to that. He shared that Suerte is very much looking forward to being with the team soon to finally realize his dream of playing in the PBA.
“Excited na rin siya,” he said. “Nakausap ko siya a couple of times. And kanina nga, nagme-message na kami so excited siya.
“Dream niya mag-PBA.“
In fact, Suerte qill undergo a swab test tomorrow. He can join Blackwater practices once he returns with a negative result.
“Magsa-swab na bukas. Kapag negative, practice na,” said Vanguardia, who presided over the team’s first full practice this year Tuesday.
Suerte’s looming arrival makes the 49-year-old bench tactician even more optimistic – not just of their chances of breaking out of their historic slump in the 2022 Governors’ Cup, but also for the organization’s future.
“Slowly but surely nabubuo na ‘yung core,” he offered.
“And we expect to draft three to four players in the upcoming draft.”
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