BK keeps doors open for banished Arboleda

Beleaguered playmaker Wynne Arboleda will still have a team to return to since his mother squad, Burger King (BK), is keen on keeping the former Defensive Player of the Year when his season-long suspension ends after the 2009-2010 edition. The Whoppers have been struggling in their Philippine Cup campaign in the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) 35th season with a 2-2 slate and are 1-1 since the stocky guard was suspended by the PBA for assaulting a fan.

Arboleda, who will have to take time out for eight months, was banned for the rest of the season after assaulting Smart-Gilas fan Alain Katigbac during Burger King’s game against the Smart Gilas squad of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman. Burger King’s latest triumph was against winless Rain or Shine and they barely escaped with a 91-89 victory last Saturday in a PBA road game in Misamis Oriental. BK team manager and PBA chairman Lito Alvarez said they would give Arboleda a second chance. “He’s still welcome in the team," Alvarez told GMANews.TV. “In fact, I even told him to attend the practice three times a week to remain in good shape and get himself ready for next season." Arboleda’s absence has had a tremendous impact on BK, whose backcourt missed the leadership and the intangibles provided by one of the best stopper’s the league has ever produced. “We have a shaky backcourt. Wynne is a big loss for us, said Alvarez. “His absence is felt by the whole team especially if the other guards are not playing well." Alvarez added they will evaluate Burger King’s next game whether to tap another player who will temporarily take the place of the man known as The Snatcher or stick with its present line up. “We still have a game to evaluate things. Coach Yeng and I talked about this," said Alvarez. “We might add another player." – GMANews.TV