Air 21, Petron, Ginebra submit seven-player blockbuster deal to PBA

AKTV/Paul Ryan Tan

Air 21, Petron, and Ginebra submitted a blockbuster three-way trade for the approval of the PBA on Wednesday.

In the deal, the Express will receive Petron big men Noy Baclao and Rob Reyes and Ginebra wingmen KG Canaleta and John Wilson; Petron will receive center Magi Sison, guard Paolo Hubalde, and a 2014 second round pick from Air 21; and Ginebra will receive Elmer Espiritu and Air 21′s first round pick in 2013.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud relayed news of the deal to InterAKTV, which reported initial details of the deal as early as last week.

“It’s already in our office and I will decide on it on Thursday,” said Salud, who has the authority to veto or revise deals he deems imbalanced.

Franz Pumaren earlier told InterAKTV that the team intended to build up its big man rotation, and this trade accomplishes exactly that. “At least we got our wish to beef up our frontline,” he said.

With the deal, Petron is able to carve out a rotation spot for June Mar Fajardo, the 6-foot-10 former University of Cebu slotman selected first overall in last Sunday’s draft, who will no longer have to contend with Baclao and Reyes for minutes at the crowded center position for the Boosters. Dorian Pena and Danny Ildefonso also play center for the team.

Ginebra, meanwhile, is building for the future with the trade, tabbing a first round pick that figures to be among the top selections next year.

Air 21 is also working on a deal to secure the services of forward Leo Najorda from Barako Bull. The Express are expected to give up Eric Salamat in the trade, but because the two teams are part-owned by the same company, Barako Bull and Air 21 are prohibited from trading directly with each other.

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