San Miguel Beer vows to be patient while waiting for Kyt Jimenez to be available for the Commissioner’s Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association that starts on 5 November.
Beermen team manager Gee Abanilla said Jimenez remains tied up with the General Santos City Warriors, who are currently in the thick of their playoff campaign in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
Abanilla explained that they don’t have any agreement with the Warriors or the MPBL so they have to wait for them to formally release the 5-foot-9 Jimenez before they include him in their final roster.
“We don’t have an agreement with GenSan or the MPBL. We were talking to Kyt and his agent, Danny Espiritu and we were informed that once their campaign is over, they are free to join us,” Abanilla told Daily Tribune.
Jimenez, a popular Internet personality who is drawing comparisons to Terrence Romeo, was taken by the Beermen in the ninth round of the recent Rookie Draft.
Although he already participated in the workouts and other preseason activities after signing a two-year contract with the Beermen, he is still not allowed to see action in deference to his deal with the Warriors.
Romeo said he couldn’t wait to share the backcourt duties with Jimenez.
“I just thought he’s actually better than me,” Romeo said in reference to Jimenez, who played college ball at University of Perpetual Help System Dalta before becoming an Internet sensation due to his workout videos and skills training.
“Maybe because age caught up with me. Those things that he had been doing, I cannot do anymore.”
Romeo said he always reminds Jimenez to take care of his body.
“The last time I was able to do the things Kyt had been doing was 2013 or 2014. But we talk a lot. I advised him that now that he’s in the PBA, he needs to figure out a way on how to prolong his career. Sustainability has always been a challenge, so he needs to figure out and make sure that he’ll last and dominate in the league,” he said.
Jimenez is expected to be given solid minutes following the appointment of veteran playmaker Chris Ross as playing-assistant coach.
He is expected to provide solid backcourt support to Romeo, Jericho Cruz, CJ Perez, Jeron Teng, Simon Enciso and Marcio Lassiter.
