FILE–Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Photo from Fiba
MANILA, Philippines—Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio said three of the five Gilas players who were picked via special selection in the 2019 PBA Draft have already signed their contracts with their mother teams.
Of those players, only Mike Nieto was announced to have signed his papers with mother club Rain or Shine.
“All five decided to really pursue their PBA careers and I know that there are negotiations, I think three of them have signed up,” said Panlilio in a virtual press conference. “Two of the five have yet to sign.”
Isaac Go (Terrafirma), Nieto (Rain or Shine), Matt Nieto (NLEX), Rey Suerte (Blackwater), and Allyn Bulanadi (Alaska) left the Gilas system after their contracts expired on January 31.
Although they were all drafted in 2019, they weren’t able to suit up for their respective teams as they were still under Gilas and were only allowed to play in international competitions.
League Commissioner Willie Marcial said that the players can immediately play for their teams in the 2021-22 Governors’ Cup resumption on February 11 if they’re included in the lineup.
Panlilio added that the arrangement was always for the five players to eventually play for their clubs in the PBA.