Despite departure to Beermen, Meralco retains Asi Taulava’s PBA rights

Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Friday, September 7, 2012 · 6:28 pm

AKTV/Paul Ryan Tan

Even though Asi Taulava has signed with the San Miguel Beermen in the ASEAN Basketball League, the Meralco Bolts will continue to hold rights of first refusal to the veteran center in the PBA.
The league’s operations manager Rickie Santos told InterAKTV that Meralco will not lose its rights should Taulava decide to return to the PBA because the Bolts presented a tender offer to the 39-year-old slotman.
That means that Taulava could not sign a deal directly with a team other than Meralco even after a stint with the Beermen, which is owned by the same San Miguel Corporation that bankrolls PBA teams Ginebra, Petron, and San Mig Coffee.
Before he opted to sign with San Miguel, Meralco offered Taulava a two-year pact.
“The ABL is only played once a week, so it means he will have more time to spend with his family,” said Taulava’s agent Sheryl Reyes in explaining his decision to leave Meralco, with which he spent two seasons.

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/despite-departure-to-beermen-meralco-retains-asi-taulavas-pba-rights