Converge offer contracts to four PBA rookies

CONVERGE, the newest team in the PBA, has tendered contract offers to rookie picks Jeo Ambohot, Justin Araña and Kameron Vales as well as Tyrus Hill.

Lawyer Chito Salud, the FiberXers’ representative to the PBA board, confirmed this to The Manila Times in a Viber message on Thursday.

Ambohot, the 6-foot-7 center from reigning NCAA champion Letran, was selected third overall in the PBA Draft last Sunday while Araña, a 6-foot-6 big man from Arellano University, was picked fourth overall.

Vales, a six-foot guard, played for La Salle’s PBA D-League team two years ago. He was picked 15th overall in the second round.

“He played two games for me in our D-League team before the lockdown,” La Salle coach Derrick Pumaren wrote via Messenger. “I think he’s ready for the PBA. He can play the 1 and 2 positions.”

Hill is a highly-athletic 6-foot-5 swingman who suited up for the Adamson Falcons and EcoOil-La Salle in PBA D-League. He was selected seventh overall by the Road Warriors but was acquired by the FiberXers along with David Murrell in exchange for the team’s first round pick next year.

Should these rookie hopefuls agree and sign a contract with the FiberXers, they will join the holdovers of the Alaska team that had already started working out with the squad.

Converge purchased the Alaska franchise in a lock, stock and barrel agreement, which means the new franchise owner will acquire the players, coaching staff and management of the previous squad.

Among the remnants of the Alaska team that are already attending the training sessions are young stars Jeron Teng and Allyn Bulanadi, guards Mike Tolomia

Mike Digregorio, Aleck Stockton and RK Ilagan, promising swingman Taylor Browne and veteran Kevin Racal.

Incoming 6-foot-7 sophomore Ben Adamos and 6-foot-8 journeyman Yousef Taha have also been working out with the team.

In five games that he played with Alaska in the Philippine Cup, Taha averaged 11.40 points and 9.60 rebounds per game.

The FiberXers also own the playing rights of Fil-foreign players Abu Tratter and Rob Herndon.

Salud said Tratter and Herndon are due to arrive anytime and can start negotiating with the new management once they are settled.

“Converge has the rights over them,” the former league commissioner added.

Tratter, the 6-foot-5 center/forward, has been Alaska’s most consistent performer in last year’s Philippine Cup, averaging 12.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

Herndon, the dead shot swingman, was more effective in last season’s Governors’ Cup, averaging 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

The new PBA season starts on June 5.