DID Converge get lucky with this trade?
Aching to finally get over the hump, the FiberXers shipped shooter BJ Andrade to the Blackwater Bossing for wingman Rey Suerte.
The one-on-one trade got the green light from the PBA Commissioner’s Office yesterday and will pave the way for Suerte and Andrade to suit up for their new teams in the season-opening Philippine Cup next month.
Suerte played for nearly three years for Blackwater, which tabbed him second overall in the special Gilas Pilipinas Draft in 2019.
The former University of Visayas and University of the East gunner will be reunited with former Gilas teammates Justine Baltazar, Jordan Heading, and Mike Nieto while boosting the FiberXers’ outside artillery aside from Heading, Nieto, Kevin Racal, and Bryan Santos.
Ditto with Suerte, Andrade, 28, who will play for his second pro league squad after being picked by Converge in the first round (No. 10) of the annual proceedings two years ago.
He failed to see action in his first two conferences with the FiberXers during his rookie season while recuperating from an ACL injury but has been part of the rotation of interim coach Franco Atienza this season.
Andrade moving to Blackwater will also see him parting ways with uncle and Converge assistant coach Danny Ildefonso.
