THERE has been a mad dash in the PBA player movement for a couple of weeks. Ball clubs are seen changing personnel left and right. Some trades quite fair, some mind-boggling.
Here are some of the recent PBA player movements:
SMB: Mo Tautua (North Port)
North Porth: Christian Standhardinger (SMB)
TNT: Mike DiGregorio (from Blackwater), Bobby Ray Parks, Jr.(Blackwater)
Blackwater: Brian Heruela, Don Trollano, Anthony Semerad (TNT), Mike Tolomia KG Canaleta (Meralco)
Meralco Bolts: Allein Maliksi, Ray Mar Jose (Blackwater)
Alaska: Rodney Brondial, Rob Herdon (Magnolia)
Magnolia: Chris Banchero (Alaska)
These player movements are entirely new in the PBA. The last celebrated trade in recent memory is the Paul Lee (ROS)-James Yap (Magnolia/BMeg) trade. Whatever the team’s intentions are in making these personnel changes, they may have one goal in this season-ending conference, thwart SMB’s bid for the historic Grand Slam. There might still be more player movements to expect at today’s trade deadline. For whatever it’s worth, these movements hopefully changes the fortunes of the teams.
From a fan’s viewpoint, these movements are a welcome twist to the viewership. These traded players have the fanbases that join them wherever the team they go. It would also be interesting to see how these players jell with their new teams.
From a management perspective, moves as these are chances to improve on the teams’ stocks and sponsorships. Running a PBA ball club means millions of pesos should be ready to churn to keep everyone in the organization happy.
From a coaches’ standpoint, one can only hope that the newly acquired players create an immediate impact for your teams’ campaign, given that this is almost mid-campaign for most clubs
Such is the uncertainty of professional sports; most are not privy. Incidentally, it is the dawn of social media where player movements are expected and leaked even before they happen.
Notes from the sidelines:
The recent earthquakes have devastated a big part of Mindanao. I want to extend the invitation to continue our support for our brothers and sisters greatly affected by the calamity in the Cotabato areas of Makilala, Kidapawan, and Tulunan, as well as Magsaysay, Bansalan in Davao del Sur. The SunStar Davao Office is accepting donations as well as other organized relief operations centers such as those in schools and churches.