VON Pessumal will have a homecoming at NorthPort before Pureblends Corp. formally takes over the franchise.
READ: Not long now before NorthPort becomes Pureblends, says Vargas
The five-time PBA champion became a Batang Pier anew after not being renewed by Barangay Ginebra.
The 32-year-old product of Ateneo was signed to a one-year deal by the same franchise that picked him in the 2016 special draft for Gilas Pilipinas.
The signing was confirmed to SPIN.ph by Pessumal’s agent Marvin Espiritu of EMBM (Espiritu Manotoc Basketball Management).
Pessumal was relegated by the Gin Kings to the Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) List during the playoffs of the season-ending Philippine Cup, where they fell short of advancing to the finals after losing to eventual champion San Miguel in sudden-death.
The shooting guard won two championships playing under coach Tim Cone after being acquired by Ginebra in a three-team trade with SMB and NorthPort involving Jeff Chan, Kent Salado, and future draft picks.
He initially played his rookie season with the Batang Pier, but was soon after sent to the Beermen for seldom-used big man Arnold Van Opstal.
With San Miguel, Pessumal won three titles, including a back-to-back during the 2019 season (Philippine Cup and Commissioner’s Cup).
Ginera opens up slots
Pessumal was the latest player to be unloaded by the Gin Kings, along with incoming sophomore Paul Garcia, who is now with Terrafirma.
Garcia, who was also relegated to the UFA List (with rights to salary) to give way for big man Joe Devance’s return during the Philippine Cup, never got to play for Ginebra after initially being signed to a two-year contract prior to Season 49.
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