Tautuaa, Rosario sign max rookie deals ahead of Jones Cup

MANILA, Philippines -- This year’s top two rookie picks Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario joined the PBA millionaire’s club on Thursday with rookie maximum deals with Talk ‘N Text.

On Tuesday, the 6-foot-6 Rosario, originally selected by Mahindra (formerly KIA) as the no. 2 overall draft pick, was shipped to Talk ‘N Text as part of the three-team, five-player deal.

Talk ‘N Text team manager Virgil Villavicencio said management signed both rookies before they fly to Taipei on Friday for the annual William Jones Cup. The maximum rookie deal is worth around P8.5 million, spread in three years with a monthly basic pay of P150,000 in the first year, P225,000 in the second year and P337,500 in the third year.  

“Pinapirma na namin sila para wala na silang iisipin paglipad nila,” Villavicencio told Philstar.com on Thursday.

Meantime, Fil-Am guard Chris Newsome inked a three-year pact with Meralco on Wednesday.

Bolts team manager Paolo Trillo declined to reveal details, though sources said the 6-foot-2 Newsome’s deal is estimated at around P8 million.

GlobalPort also inked a two-year, P2.7 million pact with former University of the East spitfire playmaker Roi Sumang according to team manager Bonnie Tan.