ALJON MARIANO GRATEFUL TO STAY AT GINEBRA ON NEW TWO-YEAR DEAL

ALMOST a decade later, Aljon Mariano is just grateful he remains to be a ka-Barangay.

The veteran 32-year-old wingman renewed his contract with Barangay Ginebra just before 2024 ended and he can't be any happier.

The University of Santo Tomas alumnus refused to disclosed the new deal he signed with the franchise that selected him in the second round of the 2015 draft (No. 16 overall), but SPIN.ph learned from within the San Miguel Corp. group that Mariano has been given a two-year extension.

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More than the length of the contract, Mariano is actually gratified for the continued trust the organization has given him.

"Siyempre grateful ako sa management, sa coaches, sa staff namin na hanggang ngayon nasa Ginebra pa rin ako," he said.

"It means may tiwala pa rin sila sa akin and naniniwala pa rin sila sa maitutulong ko sa team," added Mariano, who is represented by EMBM (Espiritu Manotoc Basketball Management).

No less than SMC sports director and Ginebra team governor Alfrancis Chua was present when Mariano signed the contract just days before Christmas of 2024.

He later thanked Chua and SMC chief Ramon S. Ang for their faith despite missing most of last Season 48 due to an ankle injury that needed arthroscopic surgery.

PHOTO: jerome ascano

"Ok na. OK naman na lahat," Mariano said of his health condition as he’s now been playing for the Kings in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Mariano won a total of seven championships – and counting – in his nine seasons with Barangay Ginebra.

2025-01-10T08:08:08Z