MANILA, Philippines – Meralco, undergoing a serious revamp under new coach Norman Black, is acquiring energetic forward Sean Anthony through a trade deal with sister team NLEX with Blackwater serving as conduit.
The Bolts are also taking in guard Simon Atkins while moving veteran players Sunday Salvacion and Jason Ballesteros over to the Blackwater Sports Elite.
In giving away Anthony and Atkins, the Road Warriors, meanwhile, get Blackwater’s 2016 and 2017 second-round picks along with rookie Juneric Baloria.
Meralco, NLEX and Blackwater have finalized the deal which, however, still needs the approval of PBA commissioner Chito Salud.
The three teams believe they have got a fair deal.
Black, just back from Spain where he helped out coach Chot Reyes in Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the FIBA World Cup, is looking to improve the makeup of the Meralco team which has yet to make a major breakthrough in the PBA since joining the league in 2010.
Last season was particularly bad for the Bolts who failed to finish better than seventh in each of the three conferences.
Talk n Text also didn’t fare above expectation, prompting the MVP Group bosses to effect major changes in the coaching rosters and management teams of the Texters and the Bolts.
Meanwhile, NLEX and Blackwater are in the process of fine-tuning the lineups that they're introducing in PBA Season 40.
Coach Boyet Fernandez officially assumes the head-coaching position at Meralco at the end of the current NCAA season.
Coach Leo Isaac is on board Blackwater.