September 11, 2017

De Ocampo goes to Meralco

TNT KaTropa has started rebuilding for the future.

In an effort to boost their stock seven weeks before the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft, the KaTropa traded veteran big man Ranidel de Ocampo to the Phoenix Fuel Masters in a multi-player trade that also involved the Meralco Bolts.

In return, Phoenix parted ways with center Norberto Torres and a 2017 first round draft pick it acquired from the San Miguel Beermen in a previous trade.

Apparently, Phoenix was just a stopover for De Ocampo, who has won several championships with TNT. The Fuel Masters then dealt De Ocampo to Meralco in exchange for Justin Chua and the Bolts' 2017 first round draft pick.

Phoenix completed the deals by shipping Chua to TNT in exchange for a second round pick in the 2019 Rookie Draft.