NORTHPORT beefed up its backcourt by signing free agent guard Aljun Melecio in a move seen as a major back up with the impending departure of Jio Jalalon.
Melecio was given a one-year contract in the aftermath of his failure to get a renewal from Terrafirma.
The playmaker out of De La Salle will form a three-guard rotation with the team along with Jalalon and third year guard Fran Yu.
READ: Jalalon-Chua deal on hold as PBA declares NorthPort trade moratorium
But Melecio is expected to play major minutes once Pureblends Corp officially takes over the Northport franchise and finally consummates the long-delayed trade of Jalalon to Blackwater for big man Justine Chua.
The PBA has set a trade moratorium while the buyout of the Northport team by Pureblends Corp is being finalized.
Just how significant the acquisition of Melecio is, Pureblends Corp. owner Bryann Calantoc attended the contract signing along with incoming team manager Adriane Anglim.
Marvin Espiritu of EMBM is the handler of the 26-year-old Melecio.
A former junior UAAP MVP who went on to win a championship with La Salle in college, Melecio was a second round pick of Phoenix (no. 19 overall) during the Season 46 draft.
Following a sterling rookie year, he was traded to Converge for a reunion with college coach Aldin Ayo.
But his stint with the FiberXers didn't turn out according to expectations, and soon enough, he found himself on the move again following the exit of Ayo at Converge.
Terrafirma served as Melecio's next home after being traded by Converge as part of the Jordan Heading deal.
Eventually, his stay with the Dyip lasted just for a season.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
