BLACKWATER is active making moves this early prior to the PBA golden season.
After an impressive showing in the just-concluded Season 49, the Bossing rewarded both Richard Escoto and Troy Mallillin with new playing contracts on Saturday.
Both signed separate two-year deals.
Escoto and Mallillin being locked up came just days after the franchise plucked veteran guard Paul Zamar from the free agent list in time for its campaign in the 50th year of Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league.
READ: Free-agent Paul Zamar goes full circle, signs with Blackwater
Marvin Espiritu of Espiritu-Manotoc Basketball Management Philippines represented both Escoto and Mallillin during the contract signing, while assistant team manager Rhona Tibor showed up in behalf of Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy and manager Johnson Martinez.
Escoto, brother of Magnolia big man Russell, has been with the team since being selected No. 14 overall (second round) during the 2019 Draft.
Mallillin was originally a third round pick of San Miguel (No. 35 overall) in the 2023 Draft, though he rarely left the bench in his season-long stint with the Beermen, with whom he won a championship during the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup.
He was relegated by SMB to the unrestricted free agent list when the call came from Bossing coach Jeffery Cariaso, asking him to try out for the just-concluded Philippine Cup.
From a one-conference deal, Mallillin will now be with the team for the next two years.
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