JAY Washington has expressed his desire to continue his PBA career after being traded by TNT to Blackwater during the mid-season break, according to Bossing coach Ariel Vanguardia.
Blackwater did not include the newly acquired Fil-Am forward in its 15-man lineup for the PBA Governors Cup, but Vanguardia said the team plans to invite Washington to practice next week.
There has been speculation about the 40-year old Washington’s future after he became part of the trade that sent Carl Bryan Cruz to TNT. The Bossing also acquired a 2022 second-round pick, originally owned by NorthPort, and a 2025 second-round pick.
No. 1 pick in 2005 draft
The first overall pick in the 2005 draft by FedEx has been in the PBA for 16 years with three separate stints with TNT along the way.
But the two-time Best Player of the Conference awardee only played a game for TNT during their title run in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup - an August 1 game against Phoenix that took place before the league moved its matches in Pampanga.
Vanguardia said the 40-year-old Washington, based on his conversations with him, is interested to continue playing.
“I spoke to him and he said he has been practicing since October. He is in shape and he still wants to play,” said Vanguardia on Thursday.
Vanguardia explained the team opted not to include Washington in the line-up to give the spot to the players who was part of the squad during the offseason.
"We felt that ‘yung nag-hardwork sa preseason, deserving naman na ma-lineup. We will see how the conference goes,” said the returning PBA coach.
Washington is an unrestricted free agent with rights to salaries due to his live contract. But he can sign with any team that decides to pick him up.
Vanguardia said the team will also be discussing how Washington will fit in the roster.
“Pagmi-meetingan namin. I think we are going to invite him to practice next week. Then, we will see how he will fit sa team. I spoke to him but I haven’t gone back to him kasi the trade was approved just days before na magkaroon ng line-up," he said.
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