BY NOLI CORTEZ

FOR Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao, import Adam Parada is like the sun bursting through the dark clouds hovering over his team.

"We knew he was smart, but we didn’t really know he was going to be as effective," said Guiao of the Mexican-American who had 28 points and 21 rebounds in the Bulls’ 89-83 win over Ginebra last Sunday in the Smart PBA Fiesta Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

"Tuwang-tuwa kami sa import namin. He may not be as flashy or as spectacular as the others, but at this point he is tailor-made for us," Guiao added.

Parada, tallest among the reinforcements at 7 feet, also helped ease the veil of uncertainty draped on acknowledged team leader Junthy Valenzuela, along with Mick Pennisi the lone remnants of Red Bull’s 2000 original team.

Valenzuela suited up but did not see action.

As confirmed by Malaya sources and hinted at by both Guiao and team manager Tony Chua, negotiations are going on with Ginebra management to have Valenzuela traded for gunner Sunday Salvacion.

Curiously, Ginebra coach Jong Uichico also did not utilize Salvacion.

"Nothing definite is yet on the table," simply said Chua.

"Naguguluhan pa kami sa sitwasyon niya kaya I chose not to play him. I didn’t want to put him in a situation na maaalangan siya," said Guiao, who admitted to not being part of the negotiations.

"Topex (Robinson) is our captain, but Junthy is our acknowledged spiritual leader," he added. "We don’t want him (Junthy) to go, but there are a lot of factors to be considered. If there’s no other way, then we will have to give way."

That’s why Guiao was doubly pleased with the win that not only put them alongside first day winner Coca-Cola and Air21 but also cut short Ginebra’s winning streak over Red Bull in the season to just two.

Cyrus Baguio and Michael Hrabak led the other locals who readily responded to Parada’s cue and shrug off the nagging questions about the Bulls, enabling them to buck Mark Caguioa’s game-high 33 points.

The Kings’s Rashon Turner, at 6-foot-7 the shortest among the imports, scored only 12 points but hauled down 19 rebounds while trying to anchor the defense on Parada, to no avail.

Parada and Baguio led the Bulls’ decisive fourth quarter surge, aided by Celino Cruz who scored all his four points in the last three minutes, giving them the lead for good at 82-81.

Ronald Tubid helped pave the way for Ginebra’s downfall, missing two of the Kings’ last four shots in the last 90 seconds.

Baguio wound up with 23 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals, causing Guiao to express another concern.

"Delikado, baka makuha din si Cyrus," he said with a straight face. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has started looking around for a replacement import after Calvin Cage’s injury was found to be more serious than initially feared.

MRI tests last Sunday showed Cage has suffered a crack in his right ankle bone that would sideline him for at least six weeks.