PBA Free Agency: TNT recently cut players!

 


In a move driven by its high-stakes pursuit of a historic grandslam, TNT Tropang Giga has officially released three players from its roster — Chris Exciminiano, Calvin Payawal, and Jielo Razon — all of whom are now listed as Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA).

This roster reshuffling was necessary to make room for two new acquisitions: Jordan Heading, who arrived via a one-on-one trade with Converge for the rights to Mikey Williams, and Mike Nieto, who was recently released by Converge and promptly signed by TNT.

A Strategic Move Toward the Grand Slam Dream

TNT’s aspirations of completing a rare PBA grandslam — winning all three conferences in a single season — have clearly dictated their every move. With injuries plaguing key players like Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac, and the Mikey Williams saga finally ending with his departure, Tropang Giga needed reinforcement. The additions of Heading, a proven shooter and former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay, and Nieto, a solid two-way contributor with high basketball IQ, address immediate needs.

In the process, however, they had to make tough decisions on existing players.

The Departed Three

  • Chris Exciminiano, a known defensive stopper and veteran presence, was ironically brought in earlier this conference to replace Jielo Razon, who was already struggling to crack the rotation. Now, both guards find themselves out, with TNT opting for more versatile and offensive-minded players in Heading and Nieto.

  • Calvin Payawal, meanwhile, is the most intriguing of the trio. A 6-foot-4 wingman with a smooth shooting touch from deep, Payawal has the frame and potential to be a valuable rotation piece elsewhere. Though he didn't log significant minutes with TNT, teams looking for size and spacing on the wing could easily find him worth developing.

Who’s the Most Valuable UFA?

Among the three, Calvin Payawal stands out as the most interesting prospect. His combination of length, shooting ability, and age gives him the highest upside. In a league where “3-and-D” wings are at a premium, Payawal could attract attention from younger squads looking to bolster their bench or even contenders needing a long-range threat.

Exciminiano, though aging, still brings gritty defense and playoff experience, while Razon is a developing guard who may still find his place in another system.

Comments