MACAO – TnT Katropa has signed two players from the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) to reinforce its roster in the East Asia League Terrific 12 tournament.
Guards Almond Vosotros and Samboy De Leon are coming on board for the Katropa for the Sept. 17 to 22 meet and all the way to the season-ending PBA Governors Cup notwithstanding a recent MPBL ruling prohibiting its players from jumping ship to the PBA in the middle of the season.
Vosotros sees action with the Kalookan Supremos and De Leon with the Iloilo Royals.
But in Vosotros’ case, SPIN.ph learned from sources that his contract with the Supremos has an exit clause allowing him to go back to the PBA should an offer come along even before the new MPBL ruling was approved last August 21.
As such, the Supremos couldn’t be meted with severe sanctions for releasing Vosotros, nor does the former Gilas Pilipinas guard be suspended or banned by the MPBL as stressed in the memo against any team or player found to be in violation of the ruling.
The 29-year-old Vosotros was a second round pick of Blackwater (13th overall) in the 2015 PBA draft, while De Leon, 27, was a fourth round pick of Star in 2015.
The MPBL effected the new ruling in order to ‘prevent any forms of disruption to the ongoing Lakan Cup.’
The Katropa are bracketed with former Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) champion Liaoning Flying Leopards and Nigata Albirex Basketball in Group D of the Asia League.
The team is using the stint as part of its preparation for the PBA’s final conference of the season and hopefully, bounce back following a heartbreaking loss against San Miguel in the finals of the Commissioner’s Cup.
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