Basketball
Lassiter ecstatic to stay with Powerade
AKTV/Paul Ryan Tan
Marcio Lassiter was shocked when he was informed that he was being traded by the Powerade Tigers to Petron in a controversial deal in exchange for Noy Baclao and Rey Guevarra.
“I was surprised and started to ask why? Why do such things? I thought we were doing a great job because we reached the finals, then all of a sudden, these trade talks happened,” Lassiter told InterAKTV on Saturday.
Lassiter, the fourth overall pick, had emerged as one of the best players in the league in the Philippine Cup, where he helped the Tigers on a Cinderella run to the finals. The rookie swingman finished third in the tournament in statistical points, behind superstars Arwind Santos of Petron and Lassiter’s teammate Gary David, and ahead of marquee names James Yap of B-MEG and Alex Cabagnot of Petron.
Powerade coach Bo Perasol described the trade as management decision, and added that he and his staff were consulted on the deal. He commended Lassiter for staying professional as the trade was put on hold by the PBA, which was looking into Powerade’s ownership issues.
The PBA decided to veto the trade, with commissioner Chito Salud citing the transaction’s effect on the league’s competitive balance. While they were high draft picks in 2010, Baclao and Guevarra are second stringers for Petron.
That was cause for celebration for Lassiter, who regards the Powerade Tigers as family.
After the veto, Perasol said that he wouldn’t want management to pursue any more trades involving Lassiter or any other player.
“I don’t want to trade Marcio or any other player. Mas magandang wala munang galawan,” he said.
