By Rey Joble

FROM quitter to skipper.

A few days after contemplating on leaving the Philippine men?s basketball team, Purefoods superstar Kerby Raymundo may end up as the team captain of coach Yeng Guiao?s squad in the coming Southeast Asia Basketball Association tournament.

Guiao told Standard Today about this possibility, saying Raymundo?s experience may be a ground for him to become the team?s skipper.

?He has the leadership quality and he has the experience,? said Guiao on Raymundo. ?He has improved a lot during the last time he played for the RP Team and we saw his energy and enthusiasm.?

Guiao met with Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Sonny Barrios late Tuesday night and discussed Raymundo?s situation as well as the planned RP vs Australia pocket tournament here.

?We don?t want to put pressure on anyone. As with Kerby?s situation, I understand him, but I know deep inside his willingness to represent the country in the Asian tournaments,? said Guiao. ?I requested commissioner baka puwede naming makausap si coach Ryan [Gregorio] and also the Purefoods management on what is the best solution here.?

Raymundo said last week that he?s planning to leave the RP Team because he was ?burned out,? attending practices with Purefoods in the morning and the twice-a-week practice of the RP Team.

?He told me he was burned out, pero sinabi ko rin sa kanya na isipin munang mabuti ?yung decision niya at the same time, we can find solutions naman whatever problem each player is facing,? said Guiao.