David Murrell free to sign with Ginebra as deadline passes

David Murrell free to sign with Ginebra as deadline passes

MAGNOLIA free-agent David Murrell is now free to sign with Barangay Ginebra after the deadline for rival PBA teams to grab the reigning slam dunk champion lapsed at the end of office hours on Tuesday.

In accordance with league rules governing sister teams, the PBA Commissioner’s Office sent out a memo informing the nine non-SMC teams of Ginebra’s desire to sign the former UP Maroon who was relegated to an unrestricted free agent by Magnolia.

READ Ginebra seeks to sign David Murrell off waivers from sister-team Magnolia

The Commissioner’s Office gave the nine other PBA teams five days, or until the end of office hours on Tuesday, to signify an intention to sign the high-flyer to void the Ginebra plan.

On Wednesday, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed that no team expressed an intention to sign Murrell, automatically ceding his signing rights to Ginebra.

david murrell

PHOTO: PBA Images

Murrell’s impending arrival is the first step in Ginebra coach Tim Cone’s bid to plug holes in his lineup following the injury that sidelined starter Jamie Malonzo as well as longterm injuries to Aljon Mariano and Jeremiah Gray.

Cone said the Gin Kings, who won’t be seeing action until Saturday in an out-of-town game against Converge in Cagayan de Oro, are still on the lookout for one more player, likely from the free-agent market or the MPBL.

Sources told SPIN.ph the Ginebra camp has made unofficial inquiries about Converge guard Schonny Winston, but bared the two sides are far apart with regards to the compension for the former La Salle star.

Murrell, who was taken in the second round at 20th overall by NLEX in the 2021 PBA draft, now gets the chance to recharge his pro career after an uneventful rookie season with the Road Warriors and a revival at Converge that lost momentum after a change of coaches from Jeff Cariaso to Aldin Ayo.

Stuck at Magnolia

At Magnolia, which he joined in the Abu Tratter trade, Murrell played sparingly before he was relegated to the unrestricted free agent list last April 13 to give way to the newly acquired Jerrick Balanza.