MANILA---Wingman Tugade is back with his former team while guard Pong Escobal will be playing for his fifth team in three years.
Tugade and Escobal were the only players picked up from Barako Bull’s conditional dispersal draft held yesterday at the Philippine Basketball Association office.
San Miguel Beer exercised its eighth pick on the 6-foot-3 Tugade, who helped the Beermen win the 2009 Fiesta Conference.
The 5-11 Escobal went to B-Meg Derby Ace, which picked him sixth overall.
Powerade, which had the top pick, didn’t make a selection along with Rain Or Shine, Air21, Alaska, Meralco, Ginebra and Talk ‘N Text.
Escobal, on his third year, suited up for Talk ’N Text on his rookie year and was traded to Sta. Lucia Realty, Meralco and Barako Bull in succeeding conferences.
Other active Barako players snubbed by the teams were Marlou Aquino, Rob Wainwright, Borgie Hermida, Richard Yee, Jojo Duncil, Aris Dimaunahan, Ken Bono, Marvin Cruz, Dennis Daa, Jason Misolas, Mark Andaya, Paolo Hubalde, Richard Alonzo and Kazim Mirza.
Tugade and Escobal’s contracts will be assumed by their new teams, and both will return to Barako in the third conference.
Barako has decided to file a leave of absence for one conference, paving the entry of the Smart Gilas national team as a regular participant in the second conference.
