LOYALTY SWAP | CHRIS KOON GOES TO MAGNOLIA?!?

What the hell?

According to Spin.ph, the rationale behind this trade was that it was “one of the requests to the new franchise owners” when the sale was approved. The problem is, it feels less like a request and more like a preview of what Titan Ultra is going to be in the PBA—unless they explain that it’s part of some bigger, long-term plan.

I’m calling it as I see it: this trade screams farm team vibes.

THE STATS:

KOON	DOB: 2001	5G | 7.6PPG - 4.0RPG - 0.8APG - 0.4SPG
DIONISIO	DOB: 1995	3G | 1.3PPG - 1.3RPG - 0.3SPG

Letting Jio Jalalon’s contract expire is at least understandable. He’s an established player who might ask for a bigger paycheck, and if he plays well, he could accidentally make Titan Ultra competitive. That’s not exactly ideal if your goal is to tank this season to get ahead in the 2027 PBA Draft. And let’s be real—Calvin Abueva and Joshua Munzon are wired to win. They’ll compete no matter what. Yes, Munzon made that costly mental lapse against Rain or Shine, but that felt like just that—a lapse. Both he and Abueva are still under contract, meaning any team that wants them would have to give up serious assets in return.

Jalalon, on the other hand, was inactive for most of last season. With Fran Yu and Aljun Melecio handling the playmaking duties, his exit was easier to justify.

But then there’s Chris Koon. That’s a different story. Sure, he’s still a rookie—but he’s a rookie with upside. Titan Ultra could’ve developed him into a solid point forward, maybe even the next CJ Cansino-type growth story.

Instead, they flipped him for Aris Dionisio.

Now, I have nothing against Dionisio. He’s a solid player and even a former PBA All-Star—but let’s be honest, the PBA should start imposing statistical standards for All-Star selections. Dionisio shines in a handful of Magnolia games each season, though. This is good because he's going to be an important part of Titan Ultra's offense. But in terms of trade value, Koon is far more flexible. Titan Ultra could’ve easily traded him to Converge and gotten someone like King Caralipio or Pao Javillonar, another role player, and a draft pick.

Sure, Dionisio fills a positional need as a big man—but he’s also a 6’3” center replacing a 6’4” point forward. That’s hardly an upgrade in terms of size or versatility.

And let’s talk about that so-called “request.” The PBA really needs to address this. What in the blue hell is that supposed to mean? I’m suddenly reminded of the infamous B-MEG/Shopinas trade that sent Mark Barroca to the current Magnolia franchise for Brian Ilad.

Same energy.

The worst part? Dionisio will probably have a better season with Magnolia than Koon will. Koon might thrive as a small forward upgrade to Rome Dela Rosa—or he might just end up as the seventh or eighth man on an already stacked roster.

Hopefully, the management saw something real in Dionisio. He’s a stretch big who made his name in the MPBL before joining the Hotshots, and if the 30-year-old former St. Clare Saint can recapture his old Manila Stars form, maybe—just maybe—the Giant Risers can silence their critics.

Still, the whole thing reeks of the old NorthPort farm team system—just rebranded under Titan Ultra.

And here’s where the conspiracy theorist in me kicks in. The timing of the trade is too convenient—it happened just a few days after Titan Ultra’s loss to Rain or Shine. Was it something the coaches saw? Something Koon said during or after the game?

But then, an alleged insider revealed the details to Spin.ph. Apparently, the deal was already promised by NorthPort before Pureblends took over the franchise. Titan Ultra’s management reportedly insisted on getting something in return, and Dionisio became the compromise. If that’s the case, then fair enough. Still, you have to wonder if this arrangement caused the delay in the Pureblends acquisition, because had they been the ones drafting, they might have chosen a different player or package altogether.

If I were a Titan Ultra official, I’d be absolutely furious about how this played out. Hopefully, this marks the end of Titan Ultra’s one-sided trades.