Casio for 3 but Powerade wants 2!

There’s news running around that 2011 PBA Draft’s top pick JV Casio is disappointed with the Powerade Tigers.

Unlike the second pick overall Paul Lee of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the Smart-Gilas guard was not given the maximum 3-year contract. The negotiations between Lee and the ROS management were roughly under 30 minutes. Instead, Casio will have the maximum rookie pay of 150,000 pesos (to improve as the season progresses) but for only two years.

This is the same deal the Tigers gave to their other pick, fourth pick overall Marcio Lassiter.

With this development, Casio is now considering other options. Casio’s agent Charlie Dy has expressed disappointment on Powerade’s decision. If Casio’s deal doesn’t amount to anything good, the crack guard might opt out of Powerade altogether.

Powerade’s team manager, JB Baylon has expressed negative sentiments on giving away guaranteed 3-year deals to unproven talents.

To be fair for the Powerade people, this is the first time Pop Cola/Swift/Sunkist/Coca-Cola/Powerade picked first in the draft. They had their share of high picks and top-caliber finds but Marc Victoria, Roel Buenaventura, and Jon Ordonio were massive bombs. Hell, Nic Belasco, their second pick overall back when Andy Seigle was the first had to wait for a couple of years before amounting to something. While the potential of turning out to be a bust is out there, they should adjust to the presence of Casio and actually, Lassiter at that. Casio earned the right have Class A perks because amongst his draft class, he was perceived as the best. Besides, it’s not as if this is his first salvo in the league having played for Smart-Gilas for their preparation for the FIBA-Asia Championship!

JV Casio is a key figure in the Smart-Gilas Team Pilipinas campaign to lead Philippine basketball back to the Olympics. Rajko Toroman has said that the streak-shooting guard is one of the continent’s best. With all eyes checking out the Fiba-Asia Championship, the last distraction Casio needs to have is a contract dispute.

Game over.