Top pick Tautuaa, Texters to seal max deal

MANILA, Philippines – Top draft pick Moala Tautuaa is set for his initial meeting with the Talk n Text management on Wednesday, starting talks that could well lead to the formalization of a three-year deal worth P8.55 million.

“We’ll be asking for his possible request and we’ll look at it. Offhand, we’ll give him what’s to be given,” said Talk n Text team manager Virgil Villavicencio.

As the No. 1 draft selection, the Fil-Tongan behemoth is expected to sign the maximum allowable contract in the league – a monthly basic pay of P150,000 in the first year, P225,000 in the second year and P337,500 in the third year.     

Tautuaa and Villavicencio meet at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center inside the Ateneo campus where the former Chadron State U stalwart will be introduced to the Tropang Texters.

While away in Estonia, Tautuaa was welcomed to the Talk n Text team by coach Jong Uichico, assistant coach Josh Reyes and would-be teammate Matt Rosser when his name was hollered by PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa as the No. 1 pick by the Texters during the draft proceedings in Manila Sunday.

The TnT group and Alaska Milk coach Alex Compton followed the proceedings via the internet a few hours before their departure for Manila after a stint in the Toyota Four Nations Cup in the Estonian capital city of Tallinn.

When Tautuaa was eventually called out as the top draft selection, Rosser and Reyes presented the Fil-Tongan player a Talk n Text shirt and were later joined by Uichico in a video by sports5.ph’s Carlo Pamintuan.

Talk n Text accorded Tautuaa ceremonials that he missed out in the draft proceedings before a mammoth crowd at the Midtown Atrium of Robinson’s Place Manila.

Tautuaa, a practice player and reserved naturalized player for the Gilas team bound for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in China next month, also heard what his parents said during a TV interview in Manila.