July 16 and 17 have been busy days for Ginebra and Terrafirma.
Northport too.
First up, it’s the fourth day out of five days of Ginebra's roster revamp.
For this period, the Kings have acquired Stephen Holt, Isaac Go, RJ Abarrientos, Didat Hanapi, Paolo Hernandez, Paul Garcia, and Ben Adamos.
And since that period, they have lost Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle.
Now, Hanapi and Hernandez have been dealt to Terrafirma for a 2025 second-round pick.
TERRAFIRMA GETS:
DIDAT HANAPI
2024 | ROUND 2 PICK 17 – GINEBRA
YEAR OF BIRTH | 2001 (23)
PAOLO HERNANDEZ
2024 | ROUND 2 PICK 22 – GINEBRA
YEAR OF BIRTH | 1999 (25)
GINEBRA GETS:
2025 DRAFT (SEASON 50) | TERRAFIRMA’S SECOND-ROUND PICK
The only thing I can say about this trade is that it’s a gamble. Ginebra is betting that Terrafirma will have a dismal season and that the second-round pick of the 2025 PBA Draft will turn into a 13th to 15th overall pick. Hopefully, the C-Stan subtraction wouldn’t be that harmful to their cause.
I am a fan of Paolo Hernandez. The Mapua player is one of the trusted players of Randy Alcantara alongside Warren Bonifacio and Adrian Nocum when he was still part of the squad. The core of the Cardinals did well in the Juniors division and had two chances to win in the Seniors division. Hernandez was instrumental in all of those runs. I doubt he’ll get minutes with the Gins but I expect Hernandez to earn a spot with Terrafirma, and join the ranks of his former tormentors (if they are still with the team) like San Beda’s Kemark Carino, and Letran’s championship core of Louie Sangalang, Allen Mina, Tommy Olivario, and Brent Paraiso.
Yes, Brent Paraiso.
The fearless firecracker of Letran was traded to Terrafirma by Northport, this time for its second-round pick in 2026.
While he is one of Bonnie Tan’s favorites, he also became expendable with the entries of Dave Ildefonso and Evan Nelle, as well as the trade that sent Jio Jalalon and Abu Tratter to the squad.
TERRAFIRMA GETS:
BRENT PARAISO
2023 | ROUND 3 PICK 29 – NORTHPORT
YEAR OF BIRTH | 1995 (29)
22 GAMES | 3.9PPG | 1.5RPG | 1.5APG
NORTHPORT GETS:
2026 DRAFT (SEASON 51) | TERRAFIRMA’S SECOND-ROUND PICK
In some ways, this is a good thing for Paraiso, whose best numbers were made during the import-laden Commissioner’s Cup where he had averages of 5.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
Finally, Rain or Shine gives up Miggy Corteza to Blackwater for an unspecified future second-round pick.
ROS won’t admit this, but their Blackwater vortex has been a good one. Last season, Rey Nambatac, James Yap, and the draft pick that turned out to be Caelan Tiongson were part of this vortex. And while this was non-existent two seasons ago, it’s probably because it focused on Yeng Guiao – who was still part of the Road Warriors when Blackwater decided to trade the likes of Don Trollano, Roi Sumang, and JP Erram to NLEX.
BLACKWATER GETS:
MIGGY CORTEZA
2024 | ROUND 2 PICK 20 – RAIN OR SHINE
YEAR OF BIRTH | 2001 (23)
RAIN OR SHINE GETS:
2026 DRAFT (SEASON 51) | BLACKWATER’S SECOND-ROUND PICK
At least Rain or Shine freed one of their three second-rounders to a team that needs manpower. Like Hernandez, Corteza was one of Benilde’s go-to players alongside Will Gozum, Migs Oczon, Robi Nayve, and Prince Carlos. Actually, he is a more believable player to earn a spot than the 36-year-old Jewel Ponferada. The second-round pick that Blackwater used to acquire Corteza was not part of the deal that sent Nambatac to TNT.
In the three-team trade, Blackwater got Simon Enciso and David Semerad, as well as the 2023 first-round pick that they gave to Rain or Shine for Rey Nambatac and the second-round pick they are also giving to the Elasto Painters. In return, NLEX, who at that point was still a Yeng Guiao team, acquired Maurice Shaw, Roi Sumang, Don Trollano, and Blackwater’s 2022 second-round pick who turned into Jhan Nermal.
TNT, the third team in the trade, got NLEX’s 2020 first-round pick.
That pick turned into Mikey Williams.
Hmmm...