RAIN or Shine has let go rookie Francis Escandor and veteran Mark Borboran as part of the team’s plan to upgrade its roster spots for the coming golden anniversary season of the PBA.
Escandor played his freshman season with the Elasto Painters as the franchise’s second round pick (no. 13) in the last rookie draft, while Borboran ended his eight-year stay with the team.
The exit of the two came as Stanley Pringle was recently signed to a two-year contract as an unrestricted free agent.
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“Of course, you’re always looking to upgrade your manpower, you talent,” said coach Yeng Guiao of the offseason moves of the Elasto Painters, who made the semifinals of all three conferences last season, but came short of making it back to the finals.
Escandor showed promise in his brief stint with Rain or Shine, but couldn’t crack the young and athletic regular rotation of the Elasto Painters.
Meanwhile, in letting go of Borboran, the team lost another veteran presence, leaving Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, and Pringle as the only old-timers in the group.
A first-round pick in the 2008 draft (No. 6 FedEx), the University of the East product was acquired by Rain or Shine in 2017 in a trade with Phoenix for Jeff Chan.
He also suited up for Alaska, Meralco, Air21, NLEX, Phoenix, and Rain or Shine in a 16-year career that saw him win a lone championship with the Aces during the 2010 Fiesta Conference.
Guiao said the Elasto Painters are also looking at the available talent in the coming rookie draft, though he’s not expecting a deep pool in the Sept. 7 proceedings.
“We don’t know how deep the draft is. Tingin ko baka hindi naman ganun kalalim, so hindi pa rin naming puwedeng gamitin 'yun para punuan yung kulang namin,” he added.
“But we’re open to upgrading our teams from other sources.”
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