MOST of the people return to their usual grind from the holiday break Monday, and so do members of the PBA family.
Going with the reopening of the PBA office is the lifting of the trade suspension which had been in effect since the PBA bubble play in Clark.
But realistically, most deals are made after the rookie draft exercise.
The 2021 Rookie Draft is weeks away on March 14, with deadline for application set Jan. 27.
"Wala pang kumikilos," said Barangay Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua on The Chasedown show on Cignal TV.
Sponsored content:
For all the teams, trading is one option to improve one's lineup.
Chua, concurrently the sports director of San Miguel Corp., said he's looking forward to the draft, just like the others.
"Tignan natin kung ano makakatulong. Kasi yung mga teams kukuha ng mga draftees yan, pag nakakuha na sila, may mga players na kahit magagaling, masasapawan ng ganito, so itre-trade at itre-trade yan. Don ako naghihintay ng opportunity," said Chua.
As the SMC sports chief, Chua is a key man in any trade transaction involving Ginebra, San Miguel Beer and Magnolia.
"Para maliwanagan nyo, lahat ng coaches (Tim Cone of Ginebra, Leo Austria of SMB and Chito Victolero of Magnolia), tinatanong ko yan, sino, ano ang kailangan n'yo," said Chua.
Sponsored content:
"(They will say) ganito, ganon, then I talked to RSA (SMC top boss Ramon S. Ang); 'sir tong team na ito eto ang kailangan, ganyan, ganyan. Eto kailangan ng gwardiya, eto ganito,'" he added.
Chua also explained the trickiness of trading.
"Minsan yung ibang coach, sasabihin gusto ko 'tong player na ito. Sasabihin ko 'siraulo mo pala eh, baligtarin natin ikaw ang coach ng kabila, tingin mo papayag ka? Di naman kasi parang pulutan 'yan na pwede mong kuhain, eh syo na.
"Tapos sino ipapalit mo? Sasabihin si ganito. O sige pagpalitin natin ha, ikaw ang coach ng kabila, at ganyan lang ang ibibigay mo, tignan mo kung ibibigay yan?"
Trading indeed requires care and skill. (SB)
