FORMER Dela Salle Green Archers hotshot CJ Austria is no longer a Titan Ultra Giant Riser, sources said.
Sources told SPIN.ph that the ownership of the PBA's newest team was irked upon hearing that Titan's No. 16 pick in the last rookie draft was picked up on Monday by the Blackwater Bossing from the Giant Risers' unrestricted free agents' list.
READ CJ Austria signs one-year deal to join packed Titan Ultra roster
“Ganun ang nangyari kasi nasa labas ng protected list si CJ, so na-pick up ng ibang team. Akala nga namin when it was posted (that CJ can be picked up freely by other teams), gagawan na ng paraan. Kaso wala pa rin, ayun nabengga,” a source said.
Under PBA rules, ballclubs are allowed to protect 16 players, including those in its injured and reserve list. Any more players under contract are relegated to the Unrestricted Free Agent with Rights to Salary (UFAWR2S) list, provided they can sign with any other team willing to assume their current contracts.
The obvious Titan Ultra oversight, the source added, has put team manager Danny Martinez on the spot.
“Medyo alanganin si boss Danny Martinez kasi hindi nya naisama sa protected list si CJ,” said the source.
Incidentally, Martinez's son, James, is part of the team's protected 16-man lineup.
Titan Ultra head coach Rensy Bajar confirmed the development, saying Austria was supposed to be elevated the 12-man Titan Ultra line-up that will play Macau Black Knights on Tuesday night.
“Wala po akala nga namin naipasok na sa 16-man roster,” said Bajar who admitted that their team is still trying to familiarize themselves with the rules and set-up in the PBA.
“Pasensya na po kasi lahat po kami dito sa team bago pa sa PBA. We’re only in our 6th month in the league,” added the former Shell Turbocharger guard.
Bajar bared that before Austria was relegated to the unrestricted free agent list, Titan Ultra management turned down a trade offer from Phoenix and Rain or Shine.
“The upper management is focused on the business aspect of the company. So they didn’t like na napabayaan ang team. Masakit nangyari,” said Bajar.
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.
