Thursday, March 27, 2008 Coke ships Villanueva to Purefoods
MANILA—A big and complicated trade among four teams and involving five players was sealed yesterday before the Philippine Basketball Association could open the import-laden 2008 Fiesta Conference on Saturday in Panabo, Davao del Norte.
The deal, which was considered as final already, used the Coca-Cola Tigers, once part of the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) franchise before it was left alone two years ago, as the transit point for the Magnolia Beverage Masters, Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants and Barangay Ginebra.
A source said that in the deal, Enrico Villanueva and William Wilson were to be traded to Coca-Cola for swingman Chester Tolomia.
But it later turned out, the 6-foot-5 Villanueva, who once played for Red Bull, was traded by Coca-Cola to Purefoods to be swapped for the four-year veteran forward Marc Pingris.
Pingres, also a member of the Purefoods team that won the Philippine Cup in 2006, was traded by Coca-Cola to Magnolia Beverage in exchange for their 2008 draft.
Thus, the trade-offs resulted to Villanueva playing for the Giants, while Pingris donning the Beverage Masters jersey in the Fiesta Cup conference, which will formally open on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
And from the Coca-Cola Tigers, Wilson, a former De La Salle University star, ended with the Barangay Gin Kings in return for three-point artist Mark Macapagal.
After the deal was consummated, Wilson and Tolomia will play with the Gin Kings and Macapagal for the Tigers.
The Gin Kings, the most popular team in the professional league today, likewise released Macky Escalona to Welcoat.
It is very clear that the use of a transit point was made by both Purefoods, Magnolia and Ginebra because of the PBA rules that barred the SMC franchises from trading players directly among the sister teams. (FCC)
