NOW an unrestricted free agent, Jio Jalalon is racing against time as he still has to sign with an team five days before PBA Season 50 formally kicks off.
The veteran guard said he was not offered a contract extension by NorthPort or the company that bought its PBA franchise, Pureblends Corp, one month since his previous contract expired, automatically making him a UFA.
READ Why Jio Jalalon is at TNT practice and not at NorthPort's tuneup
Jalalon said his contract with Northport expired last August, but he hasn't heard or received an offer from the team.
The one-month grace period for teams to make an offer to keep its signing rights on a player with an expiring contract already lapsed on Tuesday. Yet no one from Pureblends has reached out to Jalalon or talked about plans for the former Arellano star.
"Walang kumausap sa akin kung papipirmahin pa ba nila ako or hindi na. Bago pa lang mag-expire yung contract ko, naghihintay na ako," Jalalon related to SPIN.ph.
'Hanggang yung one month na grace period. Wala akong natanggap na offer."
Chot Reyes earlier confirmed Jalalon tried out for a spot at TNT, but the latter insisted he has no offer and feels his chance of finding a team is getting slimmer, considering just about every ballclub already has a full roster.
"Yun ang worry ko. Kasi mag opening na, pero wala pa akong team," he admitted. "E halos lahat ng teams ngayon puno na."
Players are required to complete at least seven years (or a total of 21 conferences) in order to become a full UFA.
By his own account, the 33-year-old Jalalon, a part of the Gilas special draft in 2016, said he's still a conference short of completing the requirements.
But in the absence of a tender offer from his previous mother team when his contract expired, the pride of Cagayan de Oro City believes he's already qualified to become one.
"Unrestricted free agent na ako," declared Jalalon.
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