SLOWLY Terrafirma is trying to fill its many holes in the hopes of forming a team competitive enough for the coming PBA Season 50.
On Thursday, the Dyip began to make their moves by signing rookie draftee Ira Battaler and renewing the contract of big man Kemark Carino.
Also receiving a renewal is Brent Paraiso, while they also picked up big man Prince Rivero from the free agent list.
The deluge of signings came amid Terrafirma losing key players Stanley Pringle, Terrence Romeo, Kevin Ferrer, and Aljun Melecio in the offseason.
Terrafirma makeover
Likewise, the Dyip acquired the services of young guard Paul Garcia from the free agent list after he was released by Barangay Ginebra, as well as another Fil-Am in Jerrick Ahanmisi, obtained in a trade with Magnolia for the rights to Javi Gomez de Liano.
Coach Ronald Tubid is obviously forming a young, athletic core now anchored on big man Louie Sangalang and wily guard Mark Nonoy.
Carino was the remaining piece out of the Terrafirma core that reached the playoffs during the Season 48 Philippine Cup.
The 6-foot-9 Carino, a second round pick of the team in the same season, made it to the All-Rookie team and All-Defensive team during his freshman year, but had the misfortune of suffering an ACL in his sophomore season.
Despite scheduled to return in May 2025 yet, the big man out of San Beda and represented by TMG was good enough to pass up that management opted to give him a contract renewal.
Battaler, meanwhile, is the first among the battalion of rookies picked by the Dyip in the last draft to be formally signed by the team.
The 6-foot-4 forward out of University of Santo Tomas and Letran, represented by Charlie Dy of VP Global Athlete and Artist Management, was a seventh round pick (No. 62) by Terrafirma, which selected Geo Chiu as the No. 1 overall pick in the Season 50 Draft.
Chiu, though, has only gotten a tender offer, as he still has to finish his contract with the Abra Weavers in the MPBL.
Paraiso will be playing his second season with the KIA franchise after being acquired in a trade with NorthPort last year, while Rivero, a first round pick by Rain or Shine in the 2019 Draft, makes his PBA return after playing for Phoenix in the recent 40th Kadayawan Invitational basketball tournament.
Both Rivero and Paraiso are also with VP Global Athlete and Artist Management.
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