MANILA, Philippines – Talk n Text and NLEX have finally found a third party in Blackwater Elite, allowing the sister teams under the MVP Group to effect a trade deal sending No. 2 draft pick Kevin Alas to the Texters’ camp.
The complex transaction also involved movements by veteran players KG Canaleta and Larry Rodriguez less than two weeks before the start of PBA Season 40 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on Oct. 19.
Alas, a former D-League star and Gilas cadet player picked by Rain or Shine second overall behind Stanley Pringle in the recent rookie draft, took a circuitous route before finally landing at Talk n Text.
First, the 6-foot-1 guard was acquired by NLEX from Rain or Shine in exchange for a future draft pick.
On Thursday, NLEX and Talk n Text finalized a deal with Blackwater where Alas jumped from NLEX to Blackwater and finally to Talk n Text.
Thus, the Tropang Texters will now have an able player to man their point position with Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag nursing injuries.
The Road Warriors got Canaleta in giving up Alas while the Elite acquired the services Rodriguez.
Blackwater also gave away its 2015 first round pick in exchange for TNT’s first round pick in the same draft period.
Originally, Alas would go to Talk n Text via a three-way trade among TnT, Rain or Shine and NLEX.
Later, the Rain or Shine management balked at the idea, saying they don't want to be labeled "as a conduit."
In another development, Blackwater finally gave up its signing rights on two-time MVP winner Danny Ildefonso, who is now free to rejoin the Meralco Bolts.