MANILA – Ilonggo guard Juan Paolo Taha remains part of the NorthPort Batang Pier for the upcoming 2021-2022 PBA Governors’ Cup. He signed a contract extension on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old Taha was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent as part of the 2014 PBA Rookie Draft but opted to stay with the Batang Pier on a three-year deal.
Taha, who was selected in the third round of the rookie draft eight years ago by the KIA franchise, is in his fourth season with the Batang Pier, which acquired him in 2018 from Barangay Ginebra.
The decision of the Iloilo City native was a welcome development for NorthPort with the departure of veterans Robert Bolick Jr., Gregory Slaughter and Nico Elorde.
Bolick, Slaughter and Elorde have become restricted free agents after not reaching a contract extension with the Batang Pier.
To replenish their roster heading into the PBA Governors’ Cup restart, Batang Pier have picked up three free agent guards in Shej Roi Sumang, Alvin Abundo and Cris Dumapig.
For Sumang, it will be a homecoming for sorts. He was drafted by the same team back in 2015. He became a free agent after being released by NLEX Road Warriors.
The 5-foot-8 Sumang suited up for Nueva Ecija in the 2021 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Invitational Cup, averaging 8.1 points, 2.9 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game.
Abundo, the 51st overall pick in the 2015 Draft, played for Magnolia from 2016-2020. He played for San Juan-GFG AICC in the MPBL late last year, averaging 5.4 points, 4.2 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per contest.
The 6-foot-4 bruiser Dumapig will be an incoming rookie for Batang Pier. He last played for the Zamboanga Sibugay in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Challenge./PN
