HE may have gotten a short contract with TNT, but Justin Chua is just grateful for the opportunity to be back and playing in the PBA again.
Chua, 36, makes his league comeback on Friday after officially being reactivated by the Tropang 5G when they make their debut in the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup against Rain or Shine at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 6-foot-6 forward/center from Ateneo was signed to a one conference contract by the telecommunication franchise in the week leading to TNT’s maiden game in the mid-season conference.
READ: TNT adds Chua, assigns Williams as unrestricted free agent
This will mark Chua’s first game back in the PBA since June 13, 2025 in a 124-109 Blackwater loss to Phoenix in the Season 49 Philippine Cup.
Chua became an unrestricted free agent shortly after his stint with the Bossing.
He returns to TNT for the third time and so far, it’s been a smooth adjustment for him.
“Good, good. One month na rin ako halos nagte-training sa kanila,” he said. “Konting adjustment na lang here and there.”
The former Defensive Player of the Year obviously managed to get back his confidence following a successful stint with Gilas Pilipinas where he won a gold during the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok under former college coach Norman Black.
Chua just sought a tryout with the Tropang 5G by joining the team during its training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna prior to the mid-season conference.
Soon after, he found himself cracking the TNT active roster.
“Timing ko na lang sa actual game talaga,” he said of the adjustment needed in his PBA return.
“Kasi naka isang tune up lang kami,” added Chua, referring to Tropang 5G’s exhibition match with sister team Meralco Bolts.
This will be Chua’s third stop with TNT after 2017 and 2023, where he won a championship with the franchise during the season-ending Governors’ Cup.
Chua was a first round pick by San Mig Coffee in the 2013 draft and went on to play with teams such as Globaport/Northport, San Miguel, Barako Bull, Meralco, Phoenix, and NLEX.
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