MANILA, Philippines – On September 27, the San Miguel Beermen signed two promising young talents to individual two-year rookie contracts: Kyt Jimenez and Troy Mallillin.

Jimenez will finally be able to team up with his idol Terrence Romeo after gaining a sizable social media following for his variety of entertaining and skillful basketball maneuvers.

After being selected 76th overall in the most recent PBA Rookie Draft, Jimenez told reporters in Filipino, “I feel like I’m in heaven because I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a child.”

“I never imagined that San Miguel would choose me. Even though it was getting close to the finish, I had to fight back tears as I heard my name. That is what the Lord desires. 

Jimenez got notoriety when playing for Mav’s Phenomenal Basketball in a series of exhibition games played during the pandemic after his time with the Perpetual Altas in the NCAA.

His social media following has grown to almost 300,000, with 180,000 of those coming from YouTube alone.

The guard also showed off his skills in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), when in Sarangani’s 125-74 thrashing of Mindoro in October 2022, he had a remarkable quadruple-double of 33 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, and 11 steals.

Mallillin, the 36th overall pick and former Most Valuable Player of the NCAA juniors level, has also signed with the Beermen.

Before agreeing to a contract with the MPBL, he played basketball for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in college.

inside the league

James Yap, a two-time PBA MVP, has signed a one-conference contract with Rain or Shine, extending his professional basketball career.

Yap, a councilor for San Juan City, has been balancing politics and athletics since taking a leave of absence in November 2021.

In the PBA Governors’ Cup earlier this year, the seven-time PBA champion also agreed to a one-conference contract with the Elasto Painters.

With 5.2 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in the season, he played in 10 games and started three of them.

However, NorthPort signed a two-year rookie deal with NCAA star Fran Yu.

Before being selected 40th overall in the recent PBA On Tour, the fiery guard, who shone with the Letran Knights, had already played with the Batang Pier.

Bonnie Tan, the college coach who led the dominant team to two championships, will be reunited with Yu.

Additionally, BJ Andrade (10th overall), Kamron Vigan-Fleming (33rd), and Patrick Maagdenberg (61st) were also signed to contracts by Converge.

Converge chose Vigan-Fleming and Andrade, but Maagdenberg was chosen from the free agent pool after Magnolia declined to sign him. 

Vigan-Fleming attended Bethesda University in Anaheim, California, while Maagdenberg, Andrade, and them all participated in Blue Eagles athletics. 

Ralph Cu received a one-year contract from Barangay Ginebra for participating in the team’s 33 and PBA On Tour squads.