GLOBALPORT continues to perk up its roster for the 42nd PBA by coming to terms with Gilas cadet draftee Von Pessumal and adding veteran Aaron Aban Tuesday following a trade with TNT Katropa.
The Batang Pier offered Pessumal a two-year contract, which the former Ateneo stalwart signed in the presence of team manager Bonnie Tan and his representative Marvin Espiritu.
On the same day Pessumal signed on the dotted line, Aban also came on board, acquired in a trade with the Texters for a 2019 second round draft pick. The wingman out of Letran was already around when the team practiced at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong on Tuesday.
The team did the two signings following the Batang Pier’s return from Qatar over the weekend, where they played an exhibition match against local club team Al Rayyan. Globalport lost the game, 84-73.
Pessumal and Aban are the two latest addition to a Globalport side that build up in the offseason through the acquisition of key players such as JR Quinahan, KG Canaleta, Rey Guevarra, and Mick Pennisi.
[See TNT trades Ababou to Blackwater for Frank Golla]
Quinahan was acquired in a trade with Rain or Shine for Jay Washington, ditto with Pennisi for Doug Kramer (Phoenix), and Guevarra for Joseph Yeo (Meralco).
Canaleta was plucked out by the franchise from the free-agent market.
Pennisi, who only came to the team last week, already joined the Batang Pier in practice starting on Monday.
“It’s not a perfect lineup, but we’ll try to duplicate what we achieved during the last Philippine Cup,” said Globalport team owner Mikee Romero, who is also the league chairman of the board, referring to the Batang Pier’s first ever semifinal stint in last year’s all-Filipino congference.
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