JUST a day after the PBA 49th season annual rookie Draft, several teams shored up their rosters via trades yesterday.
Magnolia shipped playmaker Jio Jalalon and reserve big man Abu Tratter to NorthPort in exchange for sophomore forward Zavier Lucero.
Ginebra also let go of Sidney Onwubere for the Batang Pier’s Ben Adamos in a separate pact.
Pro league chief Willie Marcial gave the nod to all the deals after the Kings pulled off a stunning trade that dealt star center Christian Standhardinger and veteran guard Stanley Pringle to the Terrafirma Dyip for Rookie of the Year candidate Stephen Holt and Isaac Go.
Ginebra climbed to No. 3 in the proceedings after it swapped Draft selections with Terrafirma also three nights back.
The Kings tabbed former Far Eastern University standout RJ Abarrientos with the third pick.
The 5-foot-9 Jalalon was the Hotshots’ choice in the special Gilas Pilipinas Draft in 2016.
Jalalon, 31, averaged 10.8 points, 5.5 assists, and 5.3 rebounds for the wards of coach Chito Victolero in the last import-less tourney that turned out to be his last after being involved in trade rumors from the grapevine.
Tratter normed 4.5 markers and 3.0 boards in a nearly two-season stint with Magnolia after getting acquired from Converge for Adrian Wong.
A former University of the Philippines standout, the 6-foot-7 Lucero sat out last season’s Commissioner’s Cup due to an ACL injury but showed a lot of promise in the All-Filipino tilt with 12.08, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists for NorthPort.
The Hotshots appeared ready to move Jalalon to another team after they chose former Adamson University hotshot Jerom Lastimosa, also a playmaker, in the Draft last Sunday.
Lastimosa is recuperating from an ACL injury.
Only time will tell if these gambles pay off.
