By REYNALD MAGALLON
Phoenix is looking to send its second overall pick in the 2025 PBA rookie draft to Converge in exchange of Bryan Santos and the eighth overall pick of the same draft class.
The trade papers have already been submitted to the PBA office for approval on Thursday, Sept. 4 – the same day as the Day 1 of the PBA rookie draft combine – as per deputy commissioner Eric Castro.
In an interview during the draft combine, newly-minted Phoenix head coach Willie Wilson explained that the decision to trade the second round pick was based on what the Fuel Masters feel they need heading into the new season.
“We’re not comfortable with what is perceived to be at the top of the draft board as far as fitting with what we have and the direction that we’re going,“ said Wilson on the sidelines of the combine at the Ynares Sports Arena.
“And for what we’re receiving, possibly (from the proposed trade), we perceive that to be a better fit with what we have and the direction that we’re going.”
Should the trade get the green light, the Fuel Masters will get a reliable stretch big in Santos they could pair with Kai Ballungay and Jason Perkins.
Despite sliding down to the eighth pick, Wilson believes the draft pool is still deep enough for them to get their hands on a quality rookie it can add to the Phoenix core of Tyler Tio, Ricci Rivero and Ken Tuffin.
“Contrary to what is widely being spoken about, I feel that this is a very talented pool of players, just maybe not in the perceived sense of what we’ve seen in the past but I think that there are a vast array of very skilled players out there,“ explained Wilson
For the FiberXers, they will be moving up the draft ladder, putting them in the position to draft one of the top prospects in this years top heavy draft.
Among the presumptive top picks are Juan Gomez De Liano, Geo Chiu, Dalph Panopio, Will Gozum and Jason Brickman.
Nelle to Phoenix; Ambohot to NorthPort; Muyang to Converge
The PBA trade committee has given the green light to a three-team deal involving Phoenix, NorthPort and Converge on Thursday, Sept. 4.
Under the deal, the Batang Pier sent guard Evan Nelle to the FiberXers in exchange for reserve big man Jeo Ambohot. Converge then shipped the upcoming second-year playmaker to Phoenix to get its hands on Larry Muyang.
With the move, the Fuel Masters got a promising guard in Nelle who they could pair with Tyler Tio at the backcourt to join a young but solid core that also featured Jason Perkins, Kai Ballungay, Ricci Rivero and Ken Tuffin.
Ambohot, who hardly made his presence felt after getting picked third overall in the 2022 draft especially playing behind the likes of Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar at Converge, will get a fresh start at NorthPort.
The Batang Pier franchise is set to have its own new beginning should the PBA board finally give its thumb up to the sale of NorthPort to Pureblends.
Muyang, on the other hand, is on an indefinite ban by the PBA after signing to Pampanga Giants in the MPBL although the suspension is expected to be lifted after the trade that reunites him with Delta Pineda at the FiberXers camp.
