CHICAGO - TNT signed rookie free agent CJ Payawal to a one-year contract and welcomed former Ateneo guard Jared Brown to practice on Monday at the Moro Lorenzo gym, a source told SPIN.ph.
Payawal, a 6-foot-5 Fil-Am from Gurnee, Illinois, was originally picked by Phoenix in the third round of this year's draft at 28th overall before being released the next day, giving TNT the opening to grab him.
Payawal was signed to a one-year deal by TNT, his agent, Marvin Espiritu confirmed to SPIN.ph.
READ Draftee Jared Brown all set to try out for TNT roster spot
Before joining the MPBL, Payawal played in the UAAP's Season 85 with the UE Red Warriors, where he averaged 8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
Brown, a third-round pick by the Tropang Giga in the last draft at 31st overall, played three years (2020-22) at Westmont College of the NAIA in the US before transferring to the UAAP.
Per sources, Brown is on a week-long tryout at TNT which is gearing up for the August 18 start of the Governor's Cup conference.
As presently constituted, the telephone giant is stacked at the guards slot with Rey Nambatac, Brian Hereuela and Jayson Castro but their is optimism that Brown can break through.
After sitting out a year for residency, he played in Season 86 and averaged 9.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 15 games with 11 starts.
A 5-foot-10, 160-pound combo guard, Brown is a knockdown shooter from 3, hitting 42.8 percent from long distance as a junior at Westmont and 35.7 percent 34-of-95) as a Blue Eagle.
"He has very good offensive skills, good range and can contribute via short jumpers and floaters. Defensively, he can match up very well but he will be challenged on the post," a UAAP coach said.
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