by Waylon Galvez
Jayjay Helterbrand (photo by Peter Paul Baltazar)Batangas Athletics-Tanduay owner Bong Tan is open to the idea of adding former Barangay Ginebra San Miguel guard Jayjay Helterbrand to bolster their backcourt for the next conference of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
“We’ll see. We haven’t discussed the lineup, but we’ll see,” said Tan last Tuesday evening during the victory party of the Athletics after winning the inaugural MPBL tournament Anta Rajah Cup championship.
The team defeated the Muntinlupa Cagers-Angelis Resort in four games of the championship showdown with a 68-66 win in Game 2 last week at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex.
Batangas Athletics, however, will miss two players from its champion team in the coming Datu Cup in June, as Mark Olayon and Kier Bong Quinto will be returning to their respective college teams, UE and Letran.
Former Batangas City mayor and Athletics team manager Dondon Dimacuha broached the idea of adding one or two former or current PBA players, and he mentioned Helterbrand as a possibility.
Helterbrand, who started his pro career with the Batangas Blades of the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA). He played his final PBA game last season with Ginebra where he won six titles and an MVP award in 2007. He spent all his 19 years with Ginebra.
The 5-foot-11 Helterbrand, who retired with career averages of 8.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists, would be a huge addition in case Batangas pursues him.
Also, aside from the current 10 member teams of the MPBL, eight teams are reportedly joining the tournament next conference, including the Metropolitan cities of Manila, Makati and San Juan.