Cardel hopes Terrafirma can convince Roosevelt Adams to stay despite Japan offer

Terrafirma head coach John Cardel is hoping that the club can still persuade former top overall pick Roosevelt Adams to stay put despite receiving offers to see action in the Japan B.League.

According to earlier reports, the Filipino-American cager is being eyed to play as an import in the Japanese league and the mentor admitted that Adams could be making his way to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Still, Cardel is pinning his hopes that Adams can still be convinced to continue boosting the Dyip.

"Kinausap niya rin ako about nga doon sa offer. Sinabi niya sa akin 'yun before matapos 'yung contract niya, before matapos 'yung 2021," Cardel told GMA News Online in an interview.

(He told me about the offer from Japan. He told me about it when his contract was about to expire just before 2021 ended.)

"He said that the offer was great kaya baka kunin na niya. Wala pa naman final kung mapu-push through talaga 'yung sa Japan and anyway, wala pa rin naman malinaw if matutuloy na ba itong PBA."

(He said that the offer was great and he might take it. There's no final words yet if he will push through with the Japan stint and anyway, it's not yet certain if the PBA wil resume.)

Cardel said he has no idea on what offer the 27-year-old baller received but added that Terrafirma may have a hard time countering it. The tactician also did not divulge which teams have shown interest in Adams but stressed there may be more than just one squad.

"We had an offer to him but I think the Japan offer is still better. We're hoping na sa amin pa rin siya maglalaro," Cardel added. "I hope na matapatan namin 'yung offer."

(We had an offer to him but I think the Japan offer is still better. We're hoping that he can still play for us. I hope that we can match the offer.)

"Nung nagkausap kami, mukhang tuloy na tuloy na siya eh. Wala rin naman siyang sinabi if maglalaro pa siya or babalik pa ba or what," Cardel added.

(When we were talking, it seemed like he's really going to Japan. He did not say anything about coming back to play for us in the future.)

The coach, though, will understand Adams' decision.

"But I wish him the best. Mahirap din i-pass 'yung ganong opportunity eh. Para rin naman sa kanya 'yun."

(But I wish him the best. It's hard to pass up on that opportunity. It's for his future, after all.)

—JMB, GMA News