TROY Mallillin has signed with Blackwater after the Bossing picked him up from the unrestricted free agent with rights to receive salary (UFAWR2RS) list.
Blackwater coach Jeff Cariaso made the confirmation.
Blackwater was able to acquire Mallillin after SMB relegated him to its UFAWR2RS list. While Mallillin was an unrestricted free agent, the Beermen were contractually obligated to pay his salary, thus the added term ‘with rights to receive salary.’
Mallillin’s case is different from that of former Blackwater player Troy Rosario, who was an unrestricted free agent after his contract expired at the close of the 2024 Governors’ Cup.
The Bossing no longer held his Rosario's rights when the contract lapsed under the PBA rule that automatically makes players unrestricted free agents after playing 21 conferences in the pro league.
Rosario, however, chose to sign with Barangay Ginebra instead of staying with Blackwater on a new contract.
Relegating players in the UFAWR2RS list is a usual practice among PBA teams if they exceed the 16-player limit, including the import, in the active roster and one on the injured/reserve list per team.
Typically, players in the UFAWR2RS list stay because they are still receiving salaries with the ballclub, but, in essence, are free to sign with anywhere.
That was the case for Mallillin, who while in the UFAWR2RS list was given the green light by San Miguel to look for options, SPIN.ph learned. Mallillin eventually signed with Blackwater following an offer.
The former Ateneo player was drafted by San Miguel in the third round, at No. 35 overall, in the Season 48 draft, but saw limited time with the Beermen.
In his final conference with SMB as part of the active roster, Mallillin only played for two games with a total of eight minutes, two of which against Blackwater, in the 2024 Philippine Cup.
Incidentally, Kyt Jimenez was also drafted by San Miguel that season but is also no longer with the Beermen.
Cariaso looks forward to giving Mallillin an opportunity with Blackwater after seeing limited action with the Beermen.
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