Kerby Raymundo of B-Meg Derby Ace has rejoined the team's practice but coach Ryan Gregorio is still uncertain whether the veteran center will be fit enough for their PBA Fiesta Cup quarterfinal series against either Rain or Shine or Coke.

Gregorio said the 6-foot-6 Raymundo showed up during their training session last Monday but only did some light scrimmages as he continued to nurse the injury on his leg.

"We'll evaluate his practices. We'll know his readiness (on Thursday). I really hope he can play," Gregorio, whose team will face the wildcard survivor in the best-of-five quarterfinals series beginning this Friday at the Araneta Coliseum, said.

Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola are contesting the last quarterfinal berth at presstime.

Gregorio said they need Raymundo back in the team to plug the hole in the middle since they might also miss the services of power forward Marc Pingris.

MRI results showed that there is a slight tear on Pingris' left ITB muscle (side thigh). He was advised to rest since Saturday.

"With Pingris a doubtful starter, we need Kerby to fill in," Gregorio said. "He (Pingris) has been playing hurt the whole conference. He is just taking meds to mask the pain. Unfortunately that pain has become excruciating and it is hampering his lateral movements."

Raymundo helped Purefoods (now B-Meg Derby Ace) win the all-Filipino title with a rare sweep of the best-of-seven title series against Alaska. However, he has been sidelined in the classification round with a leg injury.

B-Meg lost to defending champion San Miguel Beer last week (83-88) in a playoff for the second automatic semifinals slot, but Gregorio's squad still earned an outright spot in the quarterfinals with a 13-5 card (tied with SMB).

San Miguel and top seed Talk 'N Text, which finished with the best record of 15-3, are already in the semifinals.

The Llamados are actually in the same position from the previous Philippine Cup when they beat the Elasto Painters of Raymund Yu and Terry Que in their five-game showdown, then stunned the Beermen in six games of their best-of-seven Final Four face-off.

As for import Cliff Brown, Gregorio said they will stick with him.

"After careful evaluation, the positives far out-weigh the negatives," he said. "We're actually 10-4 with him, including six straight wins (and 3-2 with former import Lorenzo Wade)."