MANILA – Richard Escoto is set to suit up for the Blackwater Elite in the PBA following his one-and-done stint with the Iloilo United Royals in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
The former Far Eastern University Tamaraws has agreed to a two-year rookie contract with the Elite but he will make his PBA debut only after the Royals’ MPBL stint in the 2019-2020 season.
Escoto’s entry with the Elite will reunite him with his former Tamaraws head coach and now Blackwater mentor Nash Racela, who is a team consultant of the Royals.
Escoto was the leading scorer of the Royals in the 2019-2020 MPBL season where he averaged 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 24.21 minutes of action.
Aside from Escoto, the Elite have also inked No. 2 overall pick Maurice Shaw to a three-year maximum contract while Chris Bitoon was given a one-year rookie deal.
Blackwater has also extended the contracts of veteran Shej Roi Sumang, Chris Javier and Matthew Salem./PN
