The duo’s impending return from injury should help the team contend with the problems associated with import Robert Brown, who has so far failed to live up to the team’s expectations, prompting management to look around for a probable replacement.

Derby Ace’s representative to the PBA board, Rene Pardo, told Malaya Raymundo and Reavis will return early next month in time for the team’s fifth outing in the eliminations against Alaska on March 13.

"Kerby will be here by March 8 and he is supposed to be already in game-shape," Pardo said in a phone interview.

Raymundo missed all of the last Fiesta Conference and the Philippine Cup due to an assortment of hip and groin injuries and underwent extensive therapy and rehabilitation in the US.

Reavis, who has been hounded first by hand and then foot injuries, could even return earlier. "He’s now seeing a foot specialist in the US. Kung walang major na problema, he might be able to catch up by early March din or even sooner," Pardo said.

The Llamados open up their campaign in the mid-season tourney against Rain or Shine Wednesday next week at the Astrodome.

Pardo said Brown could be gone by then, based on his "lackadaisical" performances in Derby Ace’s tune-up games against the Philippine Patriots, Air21, Rain or Shine and Ginebra.

"May improvement na from his first game with us, pero wala pa rin," said Pardo. "Sa tagal na natin sa basketball alam na natin kung may ibubuga o wala at alam kong wala ito kaya nagpapahanap na ako ng ka-relyebo."

Pardo added the Llamados have been adversely affected by Brown’s performance, a far cry from his near-double-double performances in his last stint in Israel.

"Alam naman nating lahat na 80 percent ng kampanya sa tournament na ito dependent sa import, kaya pati ang mga locals namin nawawalan ng gana," he related.

What the Derby Ace needs from a reinforcement, according to Pardo, is an inside presence since slotmen Don Carlos Allado and Romel Adducul, who is set to receive a one-conference extension when his contract expires by the end of the month, are well into their 30s.

"Wala pa sina Kerby and Rafi sa umpisa kaya ang kailangan talaga namin inside presence," Pardo pointed out. "Di na namin kailangan ang shooter dahil nandiyan na sina James (Yap) and PJ (Simon)."

There is, however, a big question mark affixed to the Llamados’ prime candidate as replacement, Shaman Spears. The former Charlotte 49er is listed at 6-foot-6 and Pardo told the player’s agent to measure Spears based on PBA procedures to find if he can make the tourney’s height ceiling of 6-4.

"Pero hindi kami limitado kay Spears," Pardo hastily added. "Meron kaming three candidates and we’ve even asked (two-time Best Import awardee) Derrick Brown, who has been conducting basketball clinics in the US, to help us shop around, preferably someone who plays like him."

Noli Cortez, Business Malaya Insight