VIC Manuel and Sean Anthony will end the PBA 46th season donning different playing jerseys.
The two bigs were the center of an off-season deal involving Phoenix and NorthPort that was approved by the PBA trading committee on Friday.
Under the agreement, the Batang Pier will get Manuel from the Fuel Masters along with wingman Michael Calisaan.
In return, the Fuel Masters received Anthony, the 2019 top Defensive Player, sophomore Sean Manganti, and a 2021 second round draft pick.
Manuel, 34, will be returning to the same franchise that picked him ninth overall in the 2012 draft, although his stint with the Batang Pier was only for a short period of time following his trade with Meralco just after one conference.
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The native of Licab, Nueva Ecija also suited up for Alaska, Air21, and Phoenix, which incidentally, acquired him just before the season began in exchange for a couple of draft picks together with guard Brian Heruela.
Meanwhile, Phoenix will be the eighth destination for the 35-year-old Anthony after previous stops with Powerade, Barako Bull, TnT Tropang Giga, Air21, Meralco, NLEX, and NorthPort.
While with the Batang Pier, the Fil-Canadian forward made it to the Mythical First Team, All-Defensive Team, and was named Defensive Player of the Year during the 2019 season.
Calisaan was picked by Phoenix as a free agent prior to the season and will be playing in his third team after being selected in the first round by Magnolia in the 2019 draft.
Manganti saw action for the Batang Pier in the Philippine Cup bubble at Clark during his rookie season, but was relegated by the team in the 3x3 unit this year. (RG)
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