WILL this blockbuster trade get the nod of the PBA anew?
Ginebra is reportedly set to land athletic wingman Jamie Malonzo from NorthPort in exchange for Arvin Tolentino, Jeff Chan, Prince Caperal, and Kent Salado in a complicated transaction that will also involve San Miguel Beer.
The Kings, raring to make up for their quarterfinals exit in the last Philippine Cup, will also acquire shooter Von Pessumal once the Batang Pier complete a separate deal that will have them getting the former Ateneo standout from the Beermen for future draft picks.
The proposals have been sent to the Commissioner’s Office for approval.
Rumors about Malonzo’s impending move to Ginebra have emerged in recent months and further grew after unverified claims of his presence in Kings’ practices went online.
The development came on the same day the PBA approved the controversial three-team trade that shipped Calvin Oftana to TNT, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser to NLEX, and Troy Rosario to Blackwater with minor revisions.
Rosario and Banal went to the Bossing; Oftana and Raoul Soyud to the Tropang Giga; and Ganuelas-Rosser and two future second-round picks (2022 and 2025) to the Road Warriors.
The 6-foot-7 Malonzo, a former La Salle standout, was good for 17.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.4 blocks for the Batang Pier the past import-less tilt.
The Fil-Am high-flyer also saw action for Gilas Pilipinas in the August window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers after he was deemed with finality as a local by the world governing body for basketball.
Tolentino shot 35 percent from beyond the arc for Ginebra in the All-Filipino tourney and averaged 11.9 points, while Chan is at the twilight of his career.
