It took a month for TNT to obtain the services of Rey Nambatac.
Ginebra had to give up two Mythical Teamers and a draft pick for two rising stars and the rights to RJ Abarrientos.
And now, Magnolia just gave away Jio Jalalon and Abu Tratter for Zav Lucero.
Welcome to the bizarro world.
MAGNOLIA GETS:
ZAV LUCERO
2023 | ROUND 1 PICK 5 - NORTHPORT
YEAR OF BIRTH | 2000 (24)
12 GAMES | 12.1PPG | 5.4RPG | 2.0APG | 1.2SPG | 1.0BPG
GINEBRA GETS:
BEN ADAMOS
2021 | ROUND 1 PICK 6 - ALASKA (FROM MAGNOLIA VIA PHOENIX)
YEAR OF BIRTH | 1995 (29)
12 GAMES | 1.5PPG | 0.7RPG | 0.3APG
NORTHPORT GETS:
JIO JALALON
2016 | GILAS SPECIAL ROUND - MAGNOLIA
YEAR OF BIRTH | 1992 (32)
32 GAMES | 9.7PPG | 5.0RPG | 5.1APG | 1.7SPG
ABU TRATTER
2018 | ROUND 1 PICK 7 - NLEX
YEAR OF BIRTH | 1993 (31)
32 GAMES | 2.8PPG | 2.5RPG | 0.2SPG
SIDNEY ONWUBERE
2017 | ROUND 1 PICK 8 - PHOENIX (FROM MERALCO)
YEAR OF BIRTH | 1993 (31)
20 GAMES | 2.8PPG | 2.9RPG | 0.3BPG
Wow.
Usually, Magnolia would just straight-up trade with Northport. That trade would either be Zav Lucero for just Tratter, or Lucero for I guess... Aris Dionisio or a future first-round pick.
But for the Hotshots to give away Jio F'N Jalalon???
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!!!
So without a shadow of a doubt, Northport won the trade. Not only did they get Jalalon and Tratter, they also kept a draft pick, and they also acquired the services of Sidney Onwubere, who got the eye of Ginebra because of what he did for Northport during the 2020-21 PBA season.
And with an age average of 31 years, these three can help the development of Northport's young core. I know Jalalon is a combo guard, but this team has Joshua Munzon, Fran Yu, Kris Rosales, and newly acquired Evan Nelle as position-mates.
The hell with this problem though, because I doubt if Bonnie Tan would nix this trade.
And yeah, Lucero is a promising big man and they let it go to Magnolia for a promising big man whose superstar status went nowhere after Blackwater traded him to Alaska.
Unless Northport is going to play conduit, THEY JUST ACQUIRED JIO JALALON!!!
Northport currently has a potential starting five that has Jalalon, Munzon, Arvin Tolentino, Cade Flores, and either Tratter or Will Navarro. Heck, they can even start Dave Ildefonso and they will still have depth!
Let me just hit on Magnolia last because, for the third time in as many days, Ginebra acquired a new player. Now, Ben Adamos is not a star in the PBA. That said, he was once touted to be one during his playing days with the Perpetual Altas, the same school as Scottie Thompson. I think Cone wants to do something with Adamos, who is basically a better version of Prince Caperal during his NCAA days.
And then we go to Magnolia. I don't know the deal with the SMC teams (I think I will blog about this later,) but it feels like something is up. The Hotshots made the Commissioner's Cup Finals but falter in the Philippine Cup because they can't use the awesomeness of Tyler Bey there. Calvin Abueva had a bad scoring season and I think they need someone to help Ian Sangalang, James Laput, and Dionisio.
Is Rafi Reavis retiring?
Moving Jalalon is insane, because as of this time, he posts better numbers compared to Paul Lee, but it also gives the Hotshots a valid reason to develop Jerom Lastimosa.
All of a sudden, Magnolia got young.
Hmmm...
The thing about Zav Lucero is that when Northport used him, it felt like he is comfortable on the inside. That's why having Lucero and Cade Flores alongside Arvin Tolentino, Navarro, and JM Calma made Northport extremely dangerous in the paint. Hopefully Chito Victolero uses Lucero well, as the coach is notorious for being SMC's version of Yeng Guiao in terms of rotating his wards.
But what the hell is up with the SMC teams?
Does this mean it's San Miguel turn now?
Will we see Marcio Lassiter to Phoenix for Ken Tuffin...
Or Terrence Romeo to Blackwater for Christian David next???
WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THE SMC TEAMS?!?