Coca-Cola ships Telan to Rain or Shine for future draft picks

Mark Clemence Telan will add size and experience for Rain or Shine after the Elasto Painters acquired the veteran journeyman in a trade deal formalized late Friday. The two teams set their new directions towards rebuilding for the 35th season of the Philippine Basketball Association with the trade. Coca-Cola got future picks with the trade as the Tigers are hoping to infuse new blood in order to strengthen its campaign. Coca-Cola board representative JB Baylon, who is also the Powerade-Team Pilipinas manager, confirmed the deal to GMANews.TV Sunday. “We have agreed to trade Mark (Telan). It was part of the direction we want to undergo this season," said Baylon, who is currently in Tianjin, China for the FIBA Asia Championship. “We want a faster and younger team." A 10-year veteran, who was a direct-hire by Tanduay back in 1999, the 33-year-old Telan averaged 11.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in last season’s Philippine Cup. The Tigers also traded another veteran frontliner – Nic Belasco – last week for promising sophomore Larry Rodriguez as the team is trying to invest more on young turks who will be the core of their up tempo style of play. The Elasto Painters achieved yet their best place finish in the PBA last season. They made it all the way to the Final Four, the first time in six conferences, and they want to make it to the championship round when the league’s 35th season opens on October 11. The inclusion of Telan to the Elasto Painters’ fold will give the squad an additional post presence. The former La Salle stalwart, who won seven championships while playing for the Tanduay Rhum Masters in the Philippine Basketball League, will join forces with Jay-R Reyes and Mark Isip. Recently, the Elasto Painters also secured veteran frontliner Mike Hrabak from the Barako Bull. He was part of the four-player trade that also included Jeff Chan, Rob Wainwright and Mark Andaya. Chan will provide the outside scoring threat the Elasto Painters would certainly need in the absence of a legitimate center while Hrabak brings toughness and veteran smarts. – GMANews.TV