Quote Originally Posted by BoEinG_747
Meanwhile, teams looking to complete their rosters now have the PBA pre-season games for reference.

An expanded and more competitive pre-season matches will be played beginning this year that involve all 10 teams, including newcomer Welcoat, and feature rookie and veteran free agents left unsigned.

The games are set from Sept. 1-17 just before the 32nd season of the PBA opens in October.

Venues of the event have yet to be determined although league commissioner Noli Eala has proposed to take it to the provinces.

He said prospective provincial organizers who wish to host an event will have to list up with the Commissioner’s Office.

With the inclusion of rookie and veteran free agents, the 10 teams are allowed to have 18 players on their lineup during the three-week long pre-season games.

The series of matches will allow unsigned players a final shot at showing their skills and talent, and hopefully, hook up with ball clubs still in the process of filling up their rosters.

"So I’m encouraging all free agents to list up with the Commissioner’s Office so we’ll know how to spread them out," said Eala.

"This is the way things are being done in the NBA, where teams still looking for talent or those which have excess players, rely on the pre-season games as barometer on which players they will sign or cut."

He added NBA pre-season games are usually played for about a month.

The PBA commissioner cited the case of Ginebra freshman Mark Macapagal as a perfect example of a rookie free agent that failed to land a roster spot with any of the teams prior to the 2005-06 season, but is now doing good with the Kings.

The freshman guard out of San Sebastian was picked no. 14th by the Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals but failed to make the grade in the powerhouse backcourt of the telecommunication franchise.

But he persisted and managed to land a spot with Ginebra.

"Perhaps none of the team saw his potential in the beginning. It was a matter of giving the kid a break," said Eala of the hard-working Macapagal. "Now, he’s certainly enjoying his newfound status with Barangay Ginebra."
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ayos ito para patayan sa slot ang mga player ,dami pa magagaling sa free agent pool
magaling ata sadya ang ginebra magdevelop ng player hindi lang c Mark Macapagal... si Jayjay Helterbrand din, once player yan ng MBA naku ala alam gawin kundi magpenetrate ala naman nang yayari yun bangko tuloy pero ngayon one of the premier pointguards of the PBA... si Aries Dimaunahan hindi man lang naging UAAP/NCAA player yan parang practice player lang yan ng mga schools noong college days nya, ngayon decent player sya and got some playing time from ginebra.