San Miguel Beer is moving heaven and earth in its rebuilding effort and desperate bid to infuse
fresh blood into its aging roster
The most successful franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association amended its trade offer to
Air 21 on Wednesday, two days after Commissioner Chito Salud rejected the two teams’ attempt to
swap players.
In their initial agreement, SMB’s was to ship Danny Seigle, Mick Pennisi and Joseph Yeo to Air 21
in exchange for rookies Noy Baclao, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Rey Guevarra.
Unfortunately, Salud torpedoed the deal after careful study.
The league commissioner said the exchange “favors only one side”.
In their desire to address the team’s concern sooner than later, SMB officials didn’t give up.
They returned back to the drawing board and worked on a modified list of players to swap in exchange
for Air 21’s rookie trio.
Although Seigle remained in the modified proposal, SMB struck out the names of Pennisi and Yeo.
With Seigle in the list are Dorian Pena, Dondon Hontiveros and Paul Artadi.
Speaking before sportswriters while awaiting the Talk N’ Text-Powerade game on Wednesday evening,
Salud said the revised trade proposal is a marked improvement over the previous 3-on-3 deal.
“I find this revised trade to be acceptable because each team is giving up assets of equal value
in order to compensate for what each team envisions as significant additions to their respective
ballclubs,” Salud said.
“In my judgment this is not a one sided deal. I believe this is a fair trade between two
teams.”
Salud also took the opportunity to remind teams to be circumspect when exercising trades in the
future.
“Fans will know if a trade is fair or lopsided. All trades will be judged by their fairness,”
he stressed.
Seigle is 34 years old, Pena and Hontiveros are both 33 while Artadi is 29. In contrast, Baclaso,
Al-Hussaini and Guevarra are in their early 20s.
By moving their three veterans, the Beermen gave away experience in exchange for youth to keep pace
with young and quicker teams and hopefully stay competitive in the future conferences.
At the same time, they also hope to develop a new core around their new acquisitions.
The Express made the rookie trio the top three picks of last year’s Annual Draft with Baclao
emerging as the surprise No. 1 pick.
Beside experience, Air 21 also stands to acquire dependable players who could man its weak spot.
Pena could easily provide the Express with a dominating inside presence while Seigle and Hontiveros
offer an offensive threat on a consistent basis. Artadi could provide Air 21 instant energy off the
bench as a reserve guard. (DBC)
Source: Pba.ph
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