DELOS SANTOS YET TO REACH DEAL WITH CONVERGE, SUERTE NOW A UFA

ANTIPOLO – The personnel shakeup at Converge continues heading to the mid-season PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Gunner Rey Suerte is now an unrestricted free agent (with rights to salary), while guard JL Delos Santos has yet to agree to the contract offer made by the FiberXers.

Chief deputy Franco Atienza said the 31-year-old Suerte has been in the UFA list since the start of the Philippine Cup playoffs after being moved from the injury/reserved list.

It’s unlikely the team will make a new offer on Suerte, a two-time CESAFI MVP with University of the Visayas and a high pick (no. 2) by Blackwater in the 2019 Gilas draft.

READ: RR Garcia, Manganti become free agents as Phoenix shakeup begins

He was acquired last year by the FiberXers in a one-on-one trade with the Bossing for BJ Andrade.

Meanwhile, the contract of De Los Santos has already expired, but has yet to sign on the dotted line on the new deal tendered to him by the franchise, which picked him in the second round of the Season 48 draft (no. 19 overall).

The point guard out of Jose Rizal University has a 30-day grace period to accept the offer, although his rights will remain with Converge once he officially becomes a restricted free agent.

Earlier, Converge let go of veteran power forward Vic Manuel after a one-month stint during the All-Filipino conference.

READ: Vic Manuel exits Converge. Where's the 'Muscle Man' headed next?

The FiberXers came close of finally breaking through and getting a semifinals spot, but botched their twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals against Barangay Ginebra, including a 99-98 heartbreaker in their do-or-die encounter.

2026-01-21T14:15:05Z