PBA Trades, Releases, Sign-ups, Rumours (vol. II)

[regierr]

Intal might have limited minutes again - Caguiao (if he's healthy), Tubid, Salvacion, Wilson, Valenzuela, and even JJ at sg crowd the 2 and 3 positions.

I like Canaleta at PF he'll definitely help in the offensive department and maybe PF will change their mentality from a two-man team to a three-man team .

I expect Belga to improve a lot under Guiao.

[nardy]

Intal might have limited minutes again - Caguiao (if he's healthy), Tubid, Salvacion, Wilson, Valenzuela, and even JJ at sg crowd the 2 and 3 positions.

I like Canaleta at PF he'll definitely help in the offensive department and maybe PF will change their mentality from a two-man team to a three-man team .

I expect Belga to improve a lot under Guiao.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Air21 trades four players to Ginebra, Purefoods

MANILA, Jan. 26 (PNA) – After acquiring the services of former Red Bull headcoach and now national team mentor Yeng Guiao, the Air21 Express took another surprising move on Monday when it traded four players, including former three-time slam-dunk champion Nino Caneleta.

Caneleta was shipped to Purefoods, along with center Don Allado and Chico Lanete, in exchange for Richard Alonzo and Beau Belga, two players who once played for Burger King in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).

Air21, however, included Lanete in another trade that also involved its two more players -- JC Intal and center Dough Kramer in exchange for Ginebra’s 2012 and 2013 first round picks.

With the exodus of its four players, the Express are left with only one legitimate center, JR Quinahan, who will be reinforced by Belga.

The Air21 management has already acquired late last year the services of former Red Bull players Cyrus Baguio and Celino Cruz.

Still in the Air21’s line-up are Wynne Arboleda, Arwind Santos, Gary David, Adonis Sta. Maria, Homer Se, Pocholo Villanueva, Marvin Cruz and Egay Billiones.

Guiao, a five-time PBA champion, resigned from Red Bull during the Christmas holidays.

Air21 which has recently requested the PBA to change its name to Burger King, has not yet won a championship since entering the country’s premier league in 2002.

(PNA)
DCT/jfm

With Allado, Kramer, Canaleta and Intal too soft for Guiao's rough physical style of basketball, they have to go.

Heard that after the PBL PG Flex Linoleum Cup, Harbour Centre favorites Jerwyn Gaco and Al Vergara (an ex-Singapore Slinger) would be joining the team as part of the side agreement between Mikee Romero and the present Burger King owners for his capital infusion. These two players are free-agents and can go to any team as Gaco joined the 2005 Rookie draft was not selected while in the 2006 Rookie draft, Vergara was not selected.

A another rookie free-agent who I feel could fit and blosoom under Guiao's system is Letran's Eric Rodriguez, what do you think? I just feel sorry for this guy, he is definitely a better player than Mark Andaya and Gilbert Lao but even though he has the talent, he is shorter than them so they are in the PBA while Eric is still bring ignored.

Also had to question the above article's inclusion of the name of Adonis Sta. Maria, as the said player is already playing for the Pampanga Buddies in the Liga Pilipinas.

Am excited as we are to see Wynne Arboleda, Gary David and Arwin Santos fitting-in well into the tough stance which Guiao wants plus the reicarnation of the Bruise Brothers in Homer Se and Beau Belga .... maybe not as potent as Yoyoy Villamin and Ricky Relosa. But the Centers and Power Forwards of the other teams better watch out, these two plus JR Quinahan would make it hard to play under the basket for the opposing team especially with Coach Yeng Guiao telling them what to do. Chad Alonzo is also not a softee kind of a player

[ankle breaker]

chico lanete played for purefoods this conference before they got booted out in the WC phase. was he traded to air21 or he was released by purefoods to join air21?

[RetiredJordanStopper]

salary wise, if you look at it, KG and Allado for Belga and Alonzo, and Intal and Kramer for draft picks just doesnt compute. I mean, do the PBA teams really follow the terms in the salary cap? no way the SMC teams' payroll are all within or under the maximum cap, and in the same light, no way Red Bull's is over the minumum cap.

[nardy]

chico lanete played for purefoods this conference before they got booted out in the WC phase. was he traded to air21 or he was released by purefoods to join air21?

Chico was initially acquired from Purefoods together with Richard Alonzo and Beau Belga by Air 21 in exchage for KG Caneleta and Don Allado.

Then Air21 included Lanete in another trade that also involved JC Intal and center Dough Kramer in exchange for Ginebra’s 2012 and 2013 first round picks.

So Chico Lanete will now be playing for the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. This confused me as Ginebra is actually overloaded with players who could play point guard namely Jayjay Helterbrand, Junthy Valenzuela, Paul Artadi, Chris Pacana and Macky Escalona plus Johnny Abbarientos who can always be called from the reserve list. I think there would still be a move for any of the above Ginebra players. Sister team San Miguel needs an able point guard, since Olsen Racela is not getting any younger, Mike Cortez out for a major surgery, Jonas Villanueva not mature enough, the Froilan Baguion experiment did not work out and Bonbon Custodio is not really fit to handle the point. Former sister team Coca-cola is also in need since Alex Cabagnot is their only true point guard, with Aris Dimaunahan, Mark Macapagal and if needed John Arigo are Cabagnot's back-ups. Another team that needs a point guard is Red Bull as after Warren Ybañez they're forced to convert Paolo Hubalde, Magnum Membrere and Jojo Duncil.

[nardy]

salary wise, if you look at it, KG and Allado for Belga and Alonzo, and Intal and Kramer for draft picks just doesnt compute. I mean, do the PBA teams really follow the terms in the salary cap? no way the SMC teams' payroll are all within or under the maximum cap, and in the same light, no way Red Bull's is over the minumum cap.

San Miguel like Talk N Text are paying a penalty for being above the salary cap, it's like the NBA's "luxury tax" but the PBA does not divulge how much they are receiving.

As of now there is still confusion with regards to Red Bull's case. You are correct, in all probability they are below minimum.

[nardy]

http://www.sportsnews.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1731&Ite mid=1

PUREFOODS ACQUIRES ALLADO, CANALETA; GINEBRA GETS INTAL, KRAMER
by dennis PRINCIPE
Monday, 26 January 2009

Seven players will be wearing new uniforms when the PBA’s Fiesta Conference opens shop next month.

Purefoods TJ Giants, hampered by injuries to players expected to deliver on offense this season got two talented players in Don Allado and Nino Canaleta from Air21. The Giants had to let go of Beau Belga, Chad Alonzo, Chico Lanete and their 2013 draft pick.

“We have acknowledged identified our weakness in the last conference which is scoring. Those two will definitely help us to more or less address our choke point because they are known as good offensive players,” said coach Ryan Gregorio when contacted by SportsNews.ph.

Gregorio said his team has become predictably a Kerby Raymundo-James Yap team especially down the stretch and now feels his new recruits will help a lot in addressing that problem.

"It will definitely alleviate our problems in relying too much from James and Kerby in scoring. One thing certain is that we will play according to their strengths. KG is probably the best finisher in the open court,” said Gregorio “You give him the ball, he knows what to do with it. We will try not to make things complicated. With them on board it will open up the paint for us.”

The Express meanwhile immediately shipped Lanete along with JC Intal and Doug Kramer to Barangay Ginebra for the Gin Kings 2012 and 2013 draft picks.

“For me it’s not really a blockbuster trade because we feel it will just fill in our injured spots. It’s not really a trade that will turn the team around. It will help the team but it’s more on answering the need to fill in our injured spots,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

Uichico said Junthy Valenzuela recently underwent operation which the multi-titled mentor refused to divulge. Uichico however said Valenzuela will be out of commission for about six to eight weeks.

Uichico added that they have no idea when superstar Mark Caguioa will be back. Caguioa also underwent knee operation late last year by Los Angeles Lakers team physician Steve Lombardo.

Uichico hopes his two new additions will help solve their needs sooner than expected.

“Doug is young but we’ll see what he can do. For sure it will help our frontline. We really have more five’s than we have four’s,” said Uichico “JC and Doug have good potentials but potential is potential. We still have to see if they will be able to do what I want them to do.”

Meanwhile Gregorio said management have already reached an agreement with their import Reggie Larry, a former Boise State standout who had a short stint with the Golden State Warriors during the league’s summer tournament last year.

(email writer: dgprincipe@aol.com)

[nardy]

Air21 in trading frenzy with Kings, Giants
By Julius Manicad
01/27/2009

Air21, a team with a penchant for sealing one-sided deals, yesterday shipped a pair of stars for three role players and a future pick to Purefoods, shifting the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) trading carousel to a higher gear.

The Express sent marquee players Don Allado and KG Canaleta to the Giants for Beau Belga, Chico Lanete, Chad Alonzo and 2013 first round pick in a trade that would be consumated after the players’ have secured their respective medical clearances.

But Lanete won’t be able to wear the Express’ jersey as Air21 immediately included him in a package that will also send former Ateneo stars JC Intal and Doug Kramer to Ginebra for the Kings’ 2012 and 2013 first round picks.

Ginebra coach Jong Uichico confirmed the deal, but declined to comment on who will be scratched from his powerhouse roster.

Newly-appointed Air21 mentor Yeng Guiao, however, admitted that he was caught off-guard with what could be his first test in the Bert Lina-owned franchise.

“I was not involved in that decision,” said Guiao, who left Red Bull after the management sent away the pillars of the Barakos.

And while Guiao was obviously disappointed, Purefoods mentor Ryan Gregorio was elated over the reports, saying the arrival of Allado and Canaleta eases the scoring burden of James Yap and Kerby Raymundo.


He also said that Canaleta, they will have a highly-skilled wingman while Allado will boost their frontline that already has Rico Villanueva, Raymundo and the returning Rommel Adducul.

“I need a big man who could play consistently on defense. And at 30, I think Don is still capable of doing that,” Gregorio said, adding that they are planning to tap former Boise State standout Reggie Larry for the 2009 PBA Fiesta Cup.

[nardy]

TUESDAY |JANUARY 27, 2009

Express overhaul team while awaiting board nod

WHILE Air21 awaits the decision of the PBA board in its bid to have its team name changed to Burger King, the Express have also engineered a major overhaul roster-wise.

The Express traded Don Allado and Nino Canaleta to Purefoods for Beau Belga, Chad Alonzo and Chico Llanete before dealing the latter to Ginebra, along with JC Intal and Doug Kramer, for first round draft picks in 2012 and 2013.

The trades will also have to be approved by the board, however, which meets today to finally decide whether Air21 can switch to Burger King for the Fiesta Cup.

Express team manager Lito Alvarez yesterday said he is bringing additional documents he hopes would be enough to prod the board to approve the switch and the player trades.

"We had a surplus of players upon the entry of Cyrus Baguio and Celino Cruz," explained Alvarez, referring to the Red Bull players Air21 acquired before Christmas.

"What we did was to balance our lineup with a properly-planned trade deal," he said, adding they also have an eye toward the future.

"We’re happy with the talents we’ve got right now. We opted for 2012 and 2013, thinking that’s the time the likes of Wynne Arboleda and Homer Se would be retiring," Alvarez added.

"Arwind Santos is playing around 35 minutes a game for us, so more or less 13 minutes would be left for KG (Canaleta) and JC (Intal). I think KG and JC will get more exposure in their new teams," explained Alvarez, adding the same applies with Allado and Kramer.

The Giants and the Kings, meanwhile, welcomed their new recruits with open arms.

"We filled in our injured spots," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, whose Philippine Cup campaign was hampered by injuries to Mark Caguioa and Rafi Reavis.

"Don (Allado) will help us strengthen our rotation at center. He has a deadly perimeter jumper and solid post moves. He is also one of the best post defenders in the league. KG, on the other hand, is an explosive athlete who can score from the inside and all the way from the three-point area. He’s a consistent scorer who can compliment the games of Kerby Raymundo, James Yap and Rico Villanueva," said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.

"We had problems in scoring last conference. I hope with Allado and Canaleta on board, our inability to score can be addressed," Gregorio added.

[RetiredJordanStopper]

poor poor yeng..he was bypassed again in the personel change decision, the curse of red bull is still haunting him.

[nardy]

poor poor yeng..he was bypassed again in the personel change decision, the curse of red bull is still haunting him.

it's that way in professional basketball at present times .... gone were the days that it is the coach who decides which players that forms the team .... now in the PBA and even the NBA, a lot of times the coach is the last to know. Management would always say it is for business purposes, in other words it's still MONEY TALKS

[RayV]

poor poor yeng..he was bypassed again in the personel change decision, the curse of red bull is still haunting him.

Hahaha... I was thinking the same thing! Come to think of it though, Air21 is also notorious in doing one-sided (and sometimes nonsensical) trades like Red Bull so I was really not that surprised (just don't try and also trade away my main man for a ridiculously dumb offer or I'll be darned).... A bit surprised that after all their recent giveaways they decided to keep Cholo Villanueva?? Maybe there are no willing takers or maybe they'll try his luck on Yeng's system and see if he'll improve or not... Am not sure if they're cutting costs after getting a Cyrus Baguio but they traded away Allado too... hmm.... Also am a bit concerned on their choice of players to get in return but hopefully they could blossom under Yeng's system the way Gabby Espinas did...

I am also hoping that they do not waste these 2012 and 2013 picks and get people who could truly contribute to the team (bigmen that would possibly give us more size)

Sheesh... 2012 and 2013? Damn, that's quite a long time of waiting and rebuilding... will the PBA still be around by that time?? Hahaha!

[aarpee]

Ooh. Intal, Kramer, and Escalona. Ateneo's 2006 "Three Kings" are back in one team.

Anyway, this trade is good for all parties concerned. Air21 unloads its crowded SF/SG/PF rotation, and gets a decent backup center and a potential enforcer. Also, with the 2012 1st round pick, it gets first dibs on the cream of our 2012 national training pool.

Purefoods gets both a good starting/backup center to backstop E-Vill and a decent PF/SF to back up Raymundo.

but they lost a point guard, which they are lacking..
roger yap/pj simon/aaron aban they are not all pure pg's

[reamily]

it's that way in professional basketball at present times .... gone were the days that it is the coach who decides which players that forms the team .... now in the PBA and even the NBA, a lot of times the coach is the last to know. Management would always say it is for business purposes, in other words it's still MONEY TALKS

Still the truth that BK does not have the money unlike san miguel and tnt to have an overloaded lineup

[The_Big_Cat]

So Chico Lanete will now be playing for the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. This confused me as Ginebra is actually overloaded with players who could play point guard namely Jayjay Helterbrand, Junthy Valenzuela, Paul Artadi, Chris Pacana and Macky Escalona plus Johnny Abbarientos who can always be called from the reserve list.

This is what puzzles me also.
Ginebra did not trade away any players but instead got three more in their lineup which means with an import-layden conference coming up someone or people will be traded.

Or you can look it this way. It is a precautionary measure in case Rafi Reavis and Mark Caguioa do not get healthy by the start of the 2nd conference.

[bolabasket]

I wonder what Paul Artadi will say to Chico Lanete...

[regierr]

poor poor yeng..he was bypassed again in the personel change decision, the curse of red bull is still haunting him.

So this is the reason. I was expecting Intal or Canaleta will be retained because they could’ve flourished under Guiao’s system. I don’t expect Guiao to trade away sg’s or sf’s because they are the focal point/s of his system. Even if RB traded Valenzuela and Tugade, he was able to find replacements that have similar abilities. He maintained the fluidity and unpredictability of his offense by having a deep rotation in those positions. If he had Intal, KG, Santos, David, and Baguio in his rotation, his team would have been formidable. Baguio, Santos, and David is a deep rotation but it's not as deep as it could've been.

[nardy]

PBA board approves Air21 name change
01/27/2009 | 10:19 PM

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Board of Governors Tuesday finally gave its go signal for Air21 to change its name to Burger King starting next conference without any amount of transfer fee involved.

PBA board chairman Joaqui Trillo said that everything Air21 presented as documents proving that Burger King is a subsidiary of the Airfreight 2100 holding company met its purpose.

“The documents that Burger King submitted were in order after they were reviewed by our legal department (Atty. Melvin Mendoza)," said Trillo.

“They complied with the requirements and it’s all that we wanted. Burger King is owned by the Lina family, which is why they don’t need to pay a transfer fee. There was no transfer of ownership involved.

Lito Alvarez, team manager of Burger King, was just relieved that the issue is all over.

“We expected this from the very start and we’re happy that the board finally accepted our change in name," he said. “The documents showed proof that the owners of Airfreight 2100 and Burger King are the same holding company, which is Lina Corporate Services."

The Linas have a 60 percent stake in Burger King, with telecommunications tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, team owner of Talk ‘N Text, allegedly having a 13 percent share.

Now, are Burger King and Talk ‘N Text considered sister teams?

As far as PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios is concerned, they are not. But they will not be allowed to directly trade players with each other.

Barrios said that Alvarez “voluntarily made a representation" that Burger King will never deal in player-swapping or in any kind of sort with the Tropang Texters.

“Mr. Alvarez made a voluntary representation that they will not deal directly with Talk ‘N Text," said Barrios. “It was an offer Air21 made when it formally presented its desire to change its name to Burger King some two weeks back."

[ankle breaker]

they may not directly deal with TNT but as always, they will always a team to be used as conduit for that deal. just like what SMB, PF, BGK and perhaps Coke did before. so that still negates the process and the rule of the league. because no matter what they are going to do as long as it's not direct that deal or trade looks legit. what a mess.

[nardy]

they may not directly deal with TNT but as always, they will always a team to be used as conduit for that deal. just like what SMB, PF, BGK and perhaps Coke did before. so that still negates the process and the rule of the league. because no matter what they are going to do as long as it's not direct that deal or trade looks legit. what a mess.

even though the people in control may be considered as true professionals or gentlemen businessmen .... with money on the line and self-interest is the prevailing norm ..... then utmost trust with each other would not happen.