CHICAGO - After a protracted contract stalemate, San Miguel Beer and Avan Nava have finally reached an agreement, multiple sources told SPIN.ph.
The official announcement and signing is expected to happen as soon as today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
After he was picked 12th overall in the first round of the Season 49 PBA Rookie Draft last July 14, the Beermen offered the Fil-Canadian guard a two-year deal which the player's camp declined.
READ SMB gives Avan Nava ultimatum after rejecting two-year offer
"Negotiations dragged because of their non-conformity with our offer," San Miguel team manager Gee Abanialla told SPIN.ph.
While the talks stalled, Nava practiced with TNT last week, supposedly with the tacit approval from the Beermen. But Abanilla later clarified that they have not released the 24-year old combo guard.
Under PBA rules, when a team that drafts a player submits a tender offerto the Commissioner's Office within a five-day window, that team secures the player's signing rights.
Which meant the former KBL veteran couldn't have played for any other team in the PBA moving forward without being granted a release from SMC. And as long as he hasn't inked a PBA contract and a UPC, Nava could play overseas.
With five days to go before the start of the Governors' Cup, this impending deal is a win-won for both sides.
San Miguel fills a roster spot while Nava gets a chance to prove his worth in Asia's oldest pro league.
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