WILL Joshua Munzon still be around to play for the Titan Ultra Giant Risers in the season-ending PBA Governors Cup?
Sources say, "Not likely."
In fact, a reliable source told Spin.ph that while a reported trade that would send Munzon to PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinalist TNT Tropang 5G is currently on the backburner, Titan Ultra management is actively entertaining offers from other teams.
The rumored trade involving Munzon for either Rey Nambatac or Jordan Heading is temporarily on hold because TNT is not permitted to execute any personnel deals while still competing in the midseason conference.
SOURCES SAY TNT eyes Munzon-Nambatac trade, but Titan wants Heading
What is accelerating the trade chatter is the fact that Munzon is reportedly demanding a move, especially since Titan Ultra is not ready to meet his steep salary demand of P900,000 per month.
“Ayaw daw ng Titan Ultra 'yung offer ni Munzon. They said they can give him a maximum of P420,000 and pwedeng mag-add sa bonuses and perks. Pero 'yung outright na P900,000, hindi papasa sa management,” said a source.
In the current PBA landscape, only elite players command monthly salaries at that level, or even above, and these include June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, Mikey Williams, Marcio Lassiter, and Japeth Aguilar.
Currently, Munzon is earning P420,000 per month — a carryover from the two-year contract extension he signed back in June 2024 with the NorthPort Batang Pier, whose PBA franchise was bought by Titan Ultra.
While another insider bared that Titan Ultra management might be willing to go higher on a new contract, the deeper issue is that Munzon has reportedly become "a serious problem" on the offensive end.
Taking too many low-efficiency shots and dominating a massive chunk of the team's field goal attempts has been a primary grievance for both past and present coaching staffs of the Giant Risers.
“He is a very heavy volume shooter, to the point that the team loses its game strategies,” the source added.
A look at his current conference statistics shows that Munzon has taken a total of 133 field goals, converting 67. However, his struggles from beyond the rainbow arc are evident, as he has hit just 10 of his 38 three-point attempts.
During the previous Philippine Cup, where he served as the team's second-leading scorer behind Calvin Abueva, the 31-year-old former Cal State LA Golden Eagle shot 57-of-123 from the field, while making 11-of-43 clip from three-point territory.
“'Yun ang isang problema namin. We can’t control him on offense. I am sure the fans see it,” the source bared.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
