MANILA – Blackwater Bossing is taking a gamble on Kelly Nabong after signing him up for the 46th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
On Thursday, Bossing team owner Dioceldo Sy, confirmed the plan to sign up the 32-year-old Nabong, who was relegated to free agency after not being renewed by NorthPort Batang Pier.
Nabong will be given a six-month contract. If he proves that he changed his attitude, Blackwater will renew the deal.
“It was a done deal. Kelly has verbally agreed to a shorter contract and with his salary lesser than what he receives from his previous team,” said Sy.
“Ok na daw siya doon kasi he is willing to prove that he is a changed man,” added Sy, who came to terms with Nabong’s manager Danny Espiritu on Wednesday evening.
It was also a homecoming of sorts for Nabong at Blackwater after playing for the team when it was still with the PBA Developmental League.
“Galing si Kelly sa amin. He was our player before on PBA D-League,” Sy said on Nabong, who averaged 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds last season with Batang Pier.
In his eight years in PBA, Nabong’s name is equivalent to trouble during his stints with Batang Pier, Meralco Bolts, and San Miguel Beermen where he won two PBA titles.
He was involved in several court troubles due to unnecessary tactics that led to various suspensions and fines from PBA Commissioner’s Office. Furthermore, he had a fight with former Bolts assistant Jimmy Alapag and a fistfight with former Beermen teammates Arwind Santos and Ronald Tubid./PN
