FRANZ Pumaren may soon find himself torn between two teams in the PBA.
The multi-titled Air21 Express coach is on the radar of GlobalPort Batang Pier, who are on the lookout for a coach to put together a revamped and much-improved side this season.
Sources said GlobalPort team owner Mikee Romero is reportedly keen to begin exploratory talks with Pumaren, a fellow La Sallite whose contract with the Express is set to expire in August of next year.
Another source said Pumaren is already under pressure at Air21 after a woeful 0-3 (win-loss) start to the season - something which the former De La Salle coach was quick to deny.
The former San Miguel guard said the Express are still in the process of fine-tuning their roster after adding a few integral pieces beginning in the final stretch of last season.
He declined to comment on the Globalport interest.
“We’re still groping for form. Mac (Cardona) is injured and he’s only returning tonight (against San Mig Coffee). Plus there are still spots missing in our team,” said Pumaren.
“No pressure whatsoever. Nag-usap lang kami ng management recently,” he added.
GlobalPort has been on the lookout for a coach since parting ways with Junel Baculi days before the new season before finally appointing first-timer Richie Ticzon in an interim capacity.
Although GlobalPort owner Mikee Romero has declared that he plans to give Ticzon the time to prove his worth, sources said the ballclub is also looking at other options in case the Ticzon gamble fails to pan out.
Spin.ph tried to contact Romero, but the youthful businessman is abroad as of posting time.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
