PBA: Talk 'N Text adds Danny Seigle, but veteran to start on reserve list

The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters have tapped the services of veteran forward Danny Seigle to boost their oft-injured front court rotation in the ongoing 2013-14 PBA Philippine Cup.

Although Seigle, a 14-year PBA pro, was a vital cog on both ends of the floor for the Barako Bull Energy Cola in recent conferences, he comes on board with the Texters on the reserve list. "He's with us but he's not yet activated. The staff wants him to come in and familiarize himself with the plays and the system first," said team manager Paolo Trillo to GMA News Online.

PBA rules stipulate that a team can only have up to five Fil-foreigners on their active roster. The Texters already have Jimmy Alapag, Harvey Carey, Ali Peek, Sean Anthony and Kelly Williams on their active roster, plus offseason acquisition Rob Reyes on the injured/reserve list. However, the squad can resolve this logjam by either moving one of the aforementioned Fil-foreigners to the injured/reserve list or trade them for local assets.

Trillo though said the team will stand pat with its roster and dismissed the idea of moving any of the Fil-foreigners in the near future. The team manager explained that Seigle comes in as injury insurance for Williams, Reyes, and Peek, who've all spent significant time on the shelf in recent campaigns, and will suit up in case someone suddenly becomes injured.

Before the start of the season, Seigle previously declined an offer to re-sign with Barako Bull, the team he has played for since 2011.

Seigle is a nine-time All-Star, and the league's rookie of the year in 1999 with the San Miguel Beermen. He won seven championships with the Beermen from 1999 to 2009 and received Finals MVP honors five times. He was also selected to be part of Busan Asian Games delegation in 2002, but failed to play a single game due to a torn Achilles tendon during a tune-up game. After laboring through several conferences in a limited role, Seigle regained his form in 2006, when he was named to the second mythical team, Best Player of the Conference in the Philippine Cup, and Comeback Player of the Year.

In 2011, Seigle was traded together with Dondon Hontiveros and Dorian Pena to the current Barako Bull franchise (then the Air21 Express) in exchange for the latter's top three overall picks in the 2010 PBA Draft.

Last season, he normed 11.77 points, 4.61 rebounds and 1.32 assists in 31 games. - AMD, GMA News