By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
After the blockbuster three-team trade that landed superstar small forward Calvin Oftana to the TNT Tropang Giga from the NLEX Road Warriors, another deal shocked the PBA a day before the 2022 Commissioner’s Cup kick-off.
NorthPort Batang Pier’s Jamie Malonzo, one of the most athletic swingmen in the league and the newest member of the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team, is officially a member of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel franchise after a three-team trade involving NorthPort and the San Miguel Beermen was approved by commissioner Willie Marcial.
The trade means that Malonzo will immediately render his services to Ginebra and will team up with Japheth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, Christian Standhardinger, and LA Tenorio.
Under the laid-out terms of the three-team trade, the Batang Pier will be receiving Arvin Tolentino, Prince Caperal, and the next first-round pick of Ginebra.
On the other hand, San Miguel’s Von Pessumal will be heading to Ginebra in another trade from the NorthPort franchise.
Pessumal was first traded by the Beermen to the Batang Pier in exchange for the 2024 and 2025 second-round picks.
After the deal, NorthPort decided to ship Pessumal to Ginebra for the services of Kent Salado and veteran shooter Jeff Chan.
The shocking turn of events became the second major shuffle of the season after the TNT Tropang Giga let go of star Troy Rosario for NLEX’s Oftana.
To seal the mega-trade, TNT and NLEX involved the Blackwater Bossing squad and put top pick Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Paul Desiderio in the mix.
