THE changes keep on coming for Alaska.
The Aces have traded forward Carl Bryan Cruz to Blackwater in exchange for rookie frontliner Abu Tratter in a one-on-one deal.
According to sports website SPIN.ph, which first broke the news, the deal was struck late Wednesday and is now awaiting approval by Commissioner Willie Marcial.
Citing a source, spin reported the deal to be a “done one” since management of both parties already gave the go-signal for both players to start practicing with their new teams.
The PBA Board is currently with Marcial and other PBA officials cheering on the Gilas Team in the FIBA World Cup.
The trade came on the heels of Jeffrey Cariaso being tapped by Alaska to replace Alex Compton as coach of the Aces two weeks ago.
Less than a week prior to that Alaska also traded Ping Exciminiano to Rain or Shine for Maverick Ahanmisi, while only last Monday Cariaso was forced to search for a new import for the Governors Cup after original choice Branden Dawson was found to be just over the maximum 6-foot-5 height ceiling.
Tratter’s arrival should inject youth into Alaska’s aging middle men in Sonny Thoss and Noy Baclao and help out Vic Manuel. It will also be a reunion for Tratter and Jeron Teng, who won a UAAP title for La Salle in 2016.
Cruz will not only add more size, shooting and toughness to Blackwater. He will also once again join forces with fellow former Far Eastern Tamaraws Mac Belo and Raymar Jose.
