Fresh from his stint in the recent William Jones Cup tournament where he helped Strong Group Athletics in winning the title, Caelan Tiongson met the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the team which drafted him as its seventh overall pick in the just-concluded PBA Rookie Draft.
The 6-foot-5, 32-year-old incoming PBA newcomer was accompanied by Marvin Espiritu, who represents the veteran international campaigner, when they met head coach Yeng Guiao, the other members of the coaching staff and the players who were training on a rainy Tuesday at the Acropolis Gym.
“It was a simple getting to know stage and initial talks,” said Espiritu via Messenger when he responded to Pinoystep.com.
But Espiritu confirmed that Tiongson will join the Elasto Painters in the Kadayawan Festival’s Invitational Tournament in Davao City.
Rain or Shine along with two other PBA teams — Converge FiberXers and Phoenix Fuel Masters — and UAAP champion La Salle Green Archers will compete in the tournament at the USEP Gym in Davao City, which will be a part of the city’s traditional celebration.
But Tiongson will not yet play with the Elasto Painters as he has yet to sign a contract, but will get to know the members of the team more when he joins the trip and observe from the sidelines.
Rain or Shine and Tiongson might be able to reach an agreement from there.
“We’ll resume talks there,” added Espiritu.
Tiongson was one of the two first-round selections of the Elasto Painters in the recent draft.
Felix Lemetti, a US NCAA Division 1 guard, was the other player picked by Rain or Shine at No.8.
Lemetti signed a three-year deal with the squad while another rookie pick, Francis Escandor, who became a part of La Salle’s champion squad last season and drafted first in the second round by the Elasto Painters, inked a one-year deal with the team.
