PLAYERS who can readily make an immediate impact while helping their new teams prosper in the future.
That’s the main reason the parties involved gave for their respective decisions to enter into trades this late in the PBA season.
“We made the move for the future,” coach Bong Ravena explained, referring to the deal that netted TNT Bobby Ray Parks Jr. from Blackwater for Don Trollano, Anthony Semerad and a future draft pick.
“Adding another playmaker who can also defend at a high level around our franchise player, Jayson Castro, will make us so much tougher,” added Ravena.
That was basically the same reason Elite coach Aris Dimaunahan gave. “In a way, looking forward and heading into a different direction na ang franchise,” he said.
“We got solid guys na makakapaglaro ng opensa at depensa and who are willing to do the dirty work,” added Dimaunahan. “For sure, they could help us immediately and in the long run.”
The trade was approved by Commissioner Willie Marcial last Sunday night, along with a separate deal that sent Alaska guard Chris Banchero to Magnolia in exchange for frontliners Rodney Brondial and Robbie Herndon.
If rumors turn out to be true, the Aces are far from done.
Persistent reports have it that forward Vic Manuel is bound for Phoenix Pulse in exchange for a package anchored on fellow forward Jason Perkins.
Manuel said he has already heard of such reports and is ready. “Narinig ko na rin ‘yan kasi last week, kinausap na rin ako ni coach Jeff (Cariaso) ‘tsaka ni coach Danny (Ildefonso) about diyan,” he said Sunday.
“Siyempre ako, ready lang ako sa kung anong mangyayari, kung ano ‘yung magiging resulta,” added the seven-year pro.
“Talagang maraming changes sa Alaska ngayon. Waiting na lang kung anong mangyayari.
Kung mag-i-stay, okay di ba? Kung ma-trade, ganu’n talaga. Kailangan tanggapin natin kung anong magiging changes pa sa darating na linggo.”
It seems TNT is done dealing, or until such time as Ravena finds out how the Parks deal turns out.
“We gave up a lot to get him,” said Ravena. “We love both Don and Tony. Both of them fit in well with us. I just could not turn down the chance to get a player who can defend positions 1 to 4.”
