RETIREMENT will have to wait for young Rain or Shine guard Chris Tiu.
The 30-year-old Tiu agreed to a two-year deal with the Asian Coating franchise on Thursday, assuring he’ll continue playing for the team just a month after hinting at finally hanging up his jersey.
Terms of the contract were not made available although team insiders said the former national team player out of Ateneo will be receiving a maximum deal with the Elasto Painters worth P10 million.
A clause in the contract however, states that Tiu has an option to retire if he chooses to by the time the first year of the contract is over.
Tiu likewise re-signed for three years as Rain or Shine’s official image model.
“It's official! Thank you #RainOrShine,” the Elasto Painters guard twitted earlier in his account @chris_tiu
Present during the contract signing were co-owner Raymund Yu, board of governor Atty. Mamerto Mondragon, and alternate governor Edison Oribiana.
The deal with Tiu was reached just two days after long-time friend and teammate TY Tang announced his retirement from playing.
Tiu initially also indicated plans of retiring shortly after San Miguel Beer ended Rain or Shine’s season with a 4-1 decision in their best-of-seven semifinals series in the Governors Cup.
Following the loss to the Beermen, Tiu thanked the Rain or Shine management and family, along with the fans, for making the ‘PBA fun for me’ in a tweet that was initially interpreted as a hint at retirement.
He later issued a statement saying “I initially intended to play in the PBA for just one contract period, but now I'm reconsidering because I never thought I would still enjoy playing basketball this much at this level.”
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