Former University of the East Red Warriors center Rey Mark Acuno of Tubod, Lanao del Norte was signed to a contract by Talk and Text Tropang Giga.
Team manager Gabby Cui confirmed TNT’s acquisition of the 6-foot-7 center, who will initially be placed on the reserved list.
Earlier, Acuno expressed confidence he can hold his own against the top center in the PBA today many-time most valuable player (MVP) awardee June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer.
Acuno said he is excited to face the 6'10 Cebuano.
"Si June Mar Fajardo, Yun talaga ang sukatan," Acuno said in the Link podcast.
The 6'7 Acuno said his experience in battling imports in the UAAP also prepared him for the task of stopping and other big centers in the PBA.
Acuno said the heavier and taller foreign reinforcements in the UAAP made him tougher and strong as well.
The Bossing earlier picked Acuno as the number 14 overall pick in the 2nd round of the PBA Draft last March 14.
He is the second player from Lanao del Norte who will play in the PBA after gentle giant Bonel Balingit who played for Swift in the 1990s.
Before playing for UE in the UAAP, Acuno also played for Southwestern University Cobras in Cebu where he played alongside La Salle center Cameronian Ben Mbala.
Acuno is very happy and proud to be given the contract to play in the PBA since it has long been his dream.
After his UAAP career, Acuno also played briefly in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). (Romeo Braceros Jr.)
Photo: We Are PBA Updates FB page
PBA Rookie Draft Applicants 2021: Rey Mark Acuno