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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Canaleta wants Meralco Bolts to be his ‘last stop’
AFTER bouncing from one team to another since entering the league in 2005, PBA journeyman Rommel Niño Canaleta is hoping that he stays with Meralco Bolts until he retires.
The 35-year-old said that, while he does not mind playing for one team after another, he hopes to stick with Bolts due to the difficulties in adjusting to each team’s systems.
“Wala naman sa akin iyong palipat-lipat ng teams,” said the many-time PBA slam dunk champion. “Ang sa akin naman, kung saan ako talaga, kung hindi man dito ako magtagal, maglalaro pa rin ako ng maayos hanggang kaya ko.”
“Nakakapagod lang iyong pakikisama, kasi napamahal ka na sa mga teammates mong ito, tapos lilipat na naman. Bagong sistema, bagong pakikisama,” he added. “Although hindi naman ako nahihirapan sa pakikisama, lahat naman nakakasundo ko.”
Canaleta started his career with Air 21 Express before moving to B-Meg (now Magnolia Hotshots), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, TNT KaTropa, NLEX Road Warriors, Kia Picanto, GlobalPort Batang Pier, and Blackwater Elite.
When his negotiations with Elite bogged down, Canaleta admitted that he nearly accepted an offer to play as import in Thailand until he received a call from Bolts for his services.
“Kinonsider ko lang naman (sa Thailand) kasi wala akong team pero hindi ko rin naisip mag-abroad. Sa akin, PBA pa rin. Mas maganda pa rin na nandito ako, hindi nalalayo sa pamilya ko,” Canaleta said.
“Pinilit kong makabalik at manatili sa PBA. Sana ito na iyong last stop ko kasi maganda naman iyong organization. Sana mapangalagaan ko ito hanggang sa mag-retire ako,” he said.
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Negros Occidental football is off to a great start in 2018 with the staging of the 2nd Sagay Men’s Open Championships on Jan. 6 at the Sagay National High School in Negros Occidental.
Six teams are vying for the top honors in the competition led by Ceres La Salle FC, Villa Angela FC, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos FC, Negros Selection, Sagay North Negros Football Team, and Ateneo de Manila University.
Ceres La Salle is the reigning Nopsscea and UniGames champions while Villa Angela is the 2017 NOFA Men’s Open champion and Ateneo is the Season 79 UAAP champion.
Teams are expected to arrive today Jan. 5 at Balay Kauswagan Hotel in Sagay City. The elimination round matches are set tomorrow. The top two teams will advance to the finals.
The event is part of the promotion of football in the province, particularly in the northern Negros, as well as in support of the Negros Occidental Football Association’s goal of strengthening the sport./PN
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