Two former Ateneo teammates may soon find themselves with another team even before the coming PBA season unfolds in October.
That is, if there will be any taker for Rico Villanueva and Rich Alvarez who are reportedly being traded by Purefoods and are the latest among players being put up on the market.
Purefoods officials denied this yesterday, but team insiders insist the two are part of coach Ryan Gregorio's plans to put order on his team, which is too crowded at the frontline while lacking in the off-guard and small forward slots.
Alvarez and Villanueva, were members of Ateneo's UAAP champion team of 2002, were also supposedly being dangled to Talk N Text, owned by Blue Eagles benefactor Manny V. Pangilinan.
Officials of the other teams involved refused to comment.
But one team representative to the PBA Board, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted the possibility of a trade involving Alvarez and Villanueva were unofficially broached during light moments among the governors.
"Parang thinking aloud lang," related the source.
Alvarez and Villanueva have had their fair share of the PBA rounds.
Alvarez was made the top pick overall by Shell in the 2004 Rookie draft before going to Alaska when the Turbo Chargers disbanded the year after.
He has since then played for Red Bull before landing at Purefoods last year.
Villanueva's pro route was almost similar as he was drafted by Red Bull in 2003 and went to San Miguel Beer in 2007 before being traded to Purefoods last year.
Purefoods' frontline, which also boasts the likes of Kerby Raymundo, Don Carlos Allado, Romel Adducul, Jondan Salvador, Nino Canaleta, Richard Yee and Paolo Bugia, was further beefed up by the return of Marc Pingris, who was acquired from Burger King earlier in the week for two future draft picks. Noli Cortez - Malaya Online Edition
No comments:
Post a Comment