Neto imposes fine on TNT due to UFA violation

TNT Tropang 5G Team Advances Competitively to Aim for Grandslam Title Victory in Their Ambitious Quest

, and ASMedia

2025 June 7 . 4:42 PM

2 min read

TNT Tropang 5G embarks on their quest to secure victories across various tournaments, aiming to... — TNT Tropang 5G embarks on their quest to secure victories across various tournaments, aiming to clinch the coveted Grandslam title.

Neto imposes fine on TNT due to UFA violation

TNT Tropang 5G is gearing up to make some moves in their quest to solidify their Grandslam title ambitions during the ongoing 49th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). One of their strategic moves involves snatching up a shooter, and it looks like they've got their eyes on Mike Nieto, who was previously with the Converge FiberXers.

Rumors have been swirling that Nieto could be making a switch, but things aren't quite as simple as that. Contrary to speculation, Nieto didn't actually get traded from the FiberXers to the Tropang 5G. Instead, he was released by Converge and decided to join TNT through the free agency process.

In a one-on-one conversation between TNT and the FiberXers, they reportedly discussed a potential setup involving Jordan Heading and Mikey Williams. However, this didn't pan out, with Nieto becoming a free agent instead.

When asked about the deal, TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa confirmed, "Yes, he's part of the deal. But since he's UFA (Unrestricted Free Agent), it just turned out he was just picked up from Converge."

Lastimosa further explained that Nieto's addition to their roster could prove crucial in bolstering their campaign for the Philippine Cup.

A bit of background: Nieto was acquired by Converge from Rain or Shine in May 2023, as part of a trade involving draft picks[1][3][4]. However, after a period with the FiberXers, he was officially let go, opening the door for his move to TNT.

So, while it may seem like there was a trade between the two teams, it was actually a series of events leading to Nieto's release and subsequent signing with TNT through free agency.

On one hand, TNT Tropang 5G has signed Mike Nieto, a skilled shooter, enhancing their roster in their pursuit of the Grandslam title in the PBA. On the other hand, contrary to rumors, Nieto was not traded from the Converge FiberXers but was, instead, released and became a free agent before joining TNT.