MANILA, Philippines - Shortly after the San Mig Coffee Mixers and Barako Bull Energy Cola completed a three-for-one trade, Alaska head coach Luigi Trillo went to Twitter to air his disapproval.
The Mixers got Allein Maliksi from the Energy Cola in exchange for seldom-used players Wesley Gonzales, Chris Pacana and a 2017 second round pick, which got the approval of the PBA Friday afternoon.
Trillo balked at the trade, saying it is lopsided.
Best Barako talent Maliksi for Bench players Gonzales and Pacana? Are you kidding me? Maliksi is the best player on that Barako team.
— Luis Antonio Trillo (@luigitrillo) August 16, 2013
Trillo did not stop from there launching a series of Tweets explaining his side on the latest PBA trade even answering a fan, who labeled him as "bitter."
@jojodaisog Am I bitter? No I'm not just impressed at how teams find ways to strengthen their line ups, quite shocked at Barako's trades Sad
— Luis Antonio Trillo (@luigitrillo) August 16, 2013
Love Urbiztondo's game but why would Barako get Urbiztondo and miss out on a chance to acquire a slaughter,Parks or Sangalang
— Luis Antonio Trillo (@luigitrillo) August 16, 2013
Would you trade James Yap for Bulawan and Celino Cruz? Cannot see the logic In letting a talent like Maliksi go.
— Luis Antonio Trillo (@luigitrillo) August 16, 2013
Barako Bull has been involved in at least three trades prior to this one sending out Urbiztondo to Brgy. Ginebra Kings shortly after getting eliminated last conference for rookie Keith Jensen plus a future second round draft pick. Then during the conference break, they got Ronjay Buenafe and Bulawan in a three-team trade for Don Allado and Sean Anthony, who ended up with Meralco Bolts and Talk n Text Tropang Texters, respectively. Just last week, the Energy Cola has also re-acquired the services of big man Dorian Pena from Petron Blaze Boosters in exchange for Doug Kramer.
It can be recalled that Trillo and San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone, who was formerly with Alaska, had a heated encounter during their teams' tune-up game before the conference started. The verbal confrontation stemmed from a hard foul given up by the Aces' top rookie Calvin Abueva on San Mig Coffee's own neophyte Alex Mallari that Joe Devance, apparently disliked, leading to a pushing incident that almost triggered a bench-clearing melee.
Philstar.com has tried to reach PBA Commissioner Chito Salud for reaction but he has yet to reply.