Source: Philippine Basketball Association
-- Talk n Text and Sta. Lucia Realty finally sealed their trade deal Wednesday that had the Smart-PLDT franchise acquiring not just Kelly Williams but also Ryan Reyes and Charles Waters.
In the first three-team trade submitted to the PBA Commissioner’s Office, TnT first acquired Ogie Menor from Barako Energy Coffee in exchange for the Tropang Texters’ second round pick in the 2010 Annual Draft. Talk n Text then immediately shipped Menor, along with Ali Peek, Nic Belasco, Pong Escobal, to Sta. Lucia. In return, the Realtors had to give up their marquee players, Williams and Reyes.
An hour later, another three-team deal involving the same teams reached the PBA Office. In the trade, Barako Energy Coffee gave up Yousif Aljamal to Sta. Lucia for the Realtors’ Charles Waters. But Waters was then dealt by the Coffee Masters to TnT in exchange for Mark Isip.
The Smart-PLDT ball club worked for these deals with the intention of getting Williams to play for the Smart Gilas RP team in future major international tourneys.
“Malabo na siguro sa Champions Cup dahil malapit na yon. Pero talagang gusto ni coach Rajko Toroman si Kelly, so hihingin ko sa PBA Board ang approval for Kelly to be loaned to the RP team,” said Smart-PLDT top official Ricky Vargas.
“I’ll have the Williams issue calendared for the next PBA Board meeting,” Vargas added.
Vargas, however, stressed Williams’ priority would be Talk n Text.
“Iba ang magiging case ni Williams kaysa kay Japeth Aguilar,” said Vargas, explaining Williams would be loaned to Smart Gilas on a short-term basis, unlike Aguilar who’s committed to play for the RP team at least until after the 2011 Fiba Asia Olympic qualifier.
Vargas said Toroman is also eying Jarred Dillinger for the RP team.
With the addition of Reyes, Vargas said they now have a surplus of talents at the backcourt – something which the TnT top official considered “a good problem.”
“Sabi ko nga kay coach Chot ‘you have a good problem, now the challenge begins,’” said Vargas.
“Obviously, I’m happy about our acquisitions but sad to see our guys leave as we’ve been playing great team ball and they’re integral to our chemistry,” said Reyes.
Sta. Lucia Governor and team manager Buddy Encarnado said they gave up their marquee players certainly with a heavy heart.
Encarnado was in tears after informing Williams and Reyes of the development minutes after the Sta. Lucia – Alaska game Wednesday night.
“It’s beyond me,” said Encarnado.
Source: GMA News
-- Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez entered the press room as a protocol for winning coaches facing sports writers after the game.
He has won the match, his team’s third in its last four games, but came up with an opening statement as if he has lost a big one.
"I can’t imagine my team without my (most valuable player)," said Fernandez.
Yes, indeed, Fernandez lost his prized-player, 2007-2008 MVP Kelly Williams, after the Realtors shipped the versatile forward to Talk 'N Text, ending weeks of trade rumors.
As if that was not enough, the Realtors also lost their former rookie of the year, Ryan Reyes also to the Tropang Texters, completing a nine-player, three-team trade deal considered as the biggest this season.
But Williams and Reyes were two of the only players with greater value, so to speak in a trade that also involved Barako Coffee. The two cagers who played for the PBA-backed national team to the FIBA Asia Championship in separate occasions, will go to the Tropang Texters as a diverting route to the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas developmental squad.
The two players are reportedly set to be loaned to Smart-Gilas, which is also being supported by Manny V. Pangilinan, who also owns the Texters' ballclub in the PBA.
Also involved in the multi-player trade were Ali Peek, Nic Belasco, Pong Escobal, Ogie Menor, Yousif Aljamal, Mark Isip and a future rookie draft pick.
The Realtors were able to secure the rights on Peek, Belasco, Escobal, Menor and Aljamal.
The Energy Coffee Masters tabbed Isip and a future pick.
Sta. Lucia team manager and former PBA chairman Buddy Encarnado told GMANews.TV that it's really hard to let go of two of the Realtors' best players.
"Things are really done for a reason and one of them is because of a higher calling and that is to represent the national team," said Encarnado.
Sta. Lucia’s last hurrah?
But is this the sign that we have seen the last of Sta. Lucia in the PBA?
Encarnado neither confirmed nor deny that the Fiesta Cup would be the last conference in the PBA for the Realtors, who won two titles in nearly two decades of participation in the country’s premier cage league.
"We can't really tell it," said Encarnado when asked if this will be the final conference of the Realtors. "It’s like asking somebody if he still wants to stay alive or wants to die."
"But you cannot question anymore Sta. Lucia's tenure in the PBA. We have stayed longer than some of the teams that participated here. Right now, we'll still continue to show the same passion and willingness to compete," added Encarnado.
