GLOBALPORT’S young ‘prodigal son’ is back.
Big man Yousef Taha has been signed to a contract by the Batang Pier a year after unexpectedly leaving behind his basketball career here and returned to Kuwait due to ‘personal reasons.’
He was to suit up for Globalport in the PBA 42nd season when he decided to cut short his stint in the pro league.
Globalport management re-signed him to a two-year deal on Wednesday in the presence of team manager Bonnie Tan.
Team owner Mikee Romero later welcomed Taha back to the Batang Pier roster in the hope of further reinforcing the team’s frontcourt, which already has the likes of Bradwyn Guinto, Arnold Van Opstal, and rookies Lervin Flores and Joseph Gabayni, all of whom are all below 30-years-old.
“Welcome back to Globalport and the PBA, Yousef Taha,” Romero posted on his Facebook account, while hinting the team’s desire to sign one more big man.
Taha actually returned to the country recently to attend the wake of a close relative in Bataan. It was while on a brief visit here that Globalport management tried to lure him out of retirement and offer him a slot with the Batang Pier.
The 6-foot-7 Taha has had a journeyman career in the PBA which saw him play for five teams in four seasons. He previously suited up for Air21, Barangay Ginebra, Petron, and Star. This will be the third time Taha is in a Globalport jersey.
The Filipino-Palestinian big man out of Mapua was the 11th pick overall (second round) by Air21 during the 2012 rookie draft.
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