Hizon returns to PBA as a Thunder

Vince Hizon, a former Barangay Ginebra stalwart who moved to the Metropolitan Basketball Association, is returning to the Philippine Basketball Association with a stint with the Red Bull Thunder.

After trying out with the Thunder for a few days, Hizon was signed up yesterday by the Red Bull management to a two-year contract worth around P5 million.

A one-time member of the PBA Mythical Five, Hizon, 31, will fill up the spot vacated by Ato Agustin who reportedly accepted a player-assistant coaching job with the returning Pampanga team in the MBA.

The other free agent signed up yesterday was Elmer Lago who was given a one-year contract by Airfreight 2100/FedEx worth close to P3 million.

Meanwhile, Homer Se, Chester Tolomia, Gilbert Malabanan and Frederick Canlas became the first PBA draftees this year to be signed up by their respective teams.

Se, the burly former Cebuana Lhuillier slotman, got a juicy deal - a P9 million contract with Red Bull spread over three years. He will receive an average monthly pay of P250,000 from 2002 to 2004.

Canlas and Tolomia, both products of the PBL picked seventh and ninth, respectively, in the recent draft, got two-year pacts with Shell and Ginebra, respectively. They will both receive a little over P100,000 monthly.

Malabanan, a second-round draftee, likewise, was given a two-year pact by Ginebra. However, his contract is worth less than what Tolomia got.

Only 18 other draftees were given offers. The rest of the 49 players picked in the PBA draft last Sunday got their release papers, thus, automatically becoming unrestricted free agents.

FedEx officials have yet to close deals with top pick Yancy de Ocampo and eighth pick Renren Ritualo with the players still busy campaigning with Welcoat Paints in the PBL. However, FedEx president Lito Alvarez has guaranteed both of a two-year contract.

Outside of De Ocampo and Ritualo, other draftees given tender offers were Rafi Reavies, Leo Avenido, Jojo Manalo, Jason Misolas and Gilbert Lao by Coca-Cola, Christian Nicdao and Celino Cruz by Talk N’ Text, Christian Calaguio, Edwin Bacani and Reinier Sison by Shell, Omanzie Rodriguez, Chito Victolero and Brandon Sison by Sta. Lucia, William Mejia by Red Bull, Miguel Noble by Alaska and Alvin Castro by San Miguel.

Guaranteed to be signed in a uniform players contract are Reavies, Avenido, Manalo, Calaguio, Bacani, Castro, Noble, Rodriguez and Victolero.

In another developments.

• Talk N’ Text offered either Bong Ravena, Gido Babilonia and future draft picks to Airfreight/FedEx for Alex Crisano but the new PBA ballclub declined.

• FedEx officials said Barangay Ginebra had also offered Vergel Meneses and Bal David in exchange for draft picks.

• Nelson Asaytono, who has been released by Coca-Cola, is offering his services to FedEx and Red Bull.

• Talk N’ Text signed up Jerald Honeycutt and Richie Frahm as imports.

• Art del Rosario is signed to a short-term contract by Shell.