Francis Escandor hopes to get some playing time before the home crowd in Davao City after signing his first PBA contract with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
The two-time PBA champion ballclub signed the 6-2 Dabawenyo to a one-year deal after drafting him 13th overall in the 2024 PBA Draft.
The Elasto Painters will be among three PBA ballclubs set to play in the upcoming Kadayawan Invitational basketball tournament in Davao City beginning Wednesday at the USEP Gym. The two others are Phoenix Fuelmasters and Converge Fiber Xers. De La Salle University will be the fourth squad in the elite cast.
Escandor is a finals hero for the De La Salle Green Archers in their UAAP Season 86 conquest. While he looks forward to the Kadayawan tournament, his main goal is to prepare himself for the season opening PBA Governor’s Cup this August.
“It really is a surreal feeling,” said Escandor in a recent interview. “It’s every little kid’s dream to play in the PBA, and I’m living it. I’m really just blessed to make it to the PBA.”
Details of the contract was not revealed but Escandor, a three and D specialist, said: “I’m grateful that ROS management gave me the deal and the opportunity to play for them. The negotiation went smoothly, and I’m more than happy with how things went. I’m just really excited to play for ROS.”
The son of basketball patron and business mogul Glenn Escandor will be reunited with De La Salle assistant coach Caloy Garcia who is Rain or Shine’s lead assistant coach and a stalwart for the franchise.
“I’m really excited to be under Coach Caloy again,” said Escandor. “A lot of the things I learned from my senior year in Taft were from him. He really is a basketball guru, and to be reunited with him in the PBA, together with Coach Yeng Guiao — I really couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Meantime, the Phoenix and Converge will open the curtains of the PBA-flavored Kadayawan cagefest at 5:00pm while the Elasto Painters open their bid against the Green Archers at the 7pm featured match.
