The Magnolia Hotshots got a big man as they wait for Ian Sangalang’s recovery while the Converge FiberXers are trying to concoct some sort of trade package.
This is Loyalty Swap.
CONVERGE GETS:
ADRIAN WONG
48 GAMES | 3.56PPG, 1.29RPG, 0.79APG, 0.31SPG, 0.08BPG
Magnolia’s 2023 first-round pick (SEASON 48)
MAGNOLIA GETS:
ABU TRATTER
33 GAMES | 7.58PPG, 5.03RPG, 0.70APG, 0.58SPG, 0.42BPG
DAVID MURRELL
27 GAMES | 5.0PPG, 2.07RPG, 0.78APG, 0.44SPG, 0.22BPG
I rarely cover current PBA events these days but I am a sucker for anything related to the PBA Draft.
Anyway, I don’t know how many teams have Adrian Wong played in the semi-pro leagues but Converge is now his third team in as many years. Furthermore, his nomadic career continues the notorious reality suffered by countless Ateneo Blue Eagles before him. Whether you’re a top pick like Rich Alvarez, Nonoy Baclao, or Rabeh Al-Hussaini (because we all know who really is the top pick of the 2010 PBA Draft) or a serviceable player like Enrico Villanueva, JC Intal, Doug Kramer, Larry Fonacier, and Wesley Gonzales, for some reason, PBA teams are addicted to bouncing these players from one team to another.
Wong is joining the FiberXers but I feel in the first time in years, it’s the small-market team who got the deal done from their big-market counterpart. Converge is a new team who inherited a couple of players from the previous administration and judging how Abu Tratter re-signed with the squad, the tech franchise is looking for options to unload him. Magnolia is a good target since they do not know the recovery date of Ian Sangalang. With the former Mythical Teamer injured, the Hotshots lost their second-best local scorer and this is to think that Sangalang missed almost the entire Governors’ Cup. Tratter is going to be a good addition for the Hotshots because it gives them a player that is a diamond in the rough that can do the things Sangalang can give them.
Furthermore, the Hotshots have a bonus player in David Murrell. I don’t know how he’ll fit in Chito Victolero’s system but while Magnolia is top-heavy, they only fielded 16 locals last season. James Laput rode the bench during Magnolia’s import-laden conferences and I don’t know if Keith Zaldivar and Jed Mendoza can keep their bench spots so Murrell has a fighting chance here. And Victolero is somewhat SMC’s version of Yeng Guiao with how he likes to use Aris Dionisio, Rome Dela Rosa, and Jackson Corpuz.
The only problem I have in this deal is what Converge would do with the pick. Looking at the possible names, the FiberXers could end up with a couple of players from UP, La Salle, and Letran. Converge have two players averaging in double digits this season (Maverick Ahanmisi and Jeron Teng) but they don’t really have a blue-chip point guard and a player to pair with Justin Arana in the frontcourt. After obtaining TNT’s first-round pick, they could use the pick to fill both spots but I doubt if the big man would be as awesome as Justine Baltazar or if the point guard is as great as either Sedrick Barefield or Schonny Winston. If the team wants a cornerstone, they need to trade up again, to at least entice a team like Rain or Shine to give up their third or fourth pick and a random player for their two picks or one pick and a prospect.
A pick and Jeo Ambohot could be a good thing.