Done Deal

Rabeh: Dominant when/if focused

Try as we may to believe that the PBA is one and on the same page in ensuring that fans get their money's worth in games which requires healthy competition and league-wide balance, at day's end it's still a business wherein winning at all costs will always be at the minds of players, officials and most of all, team owners.

Weeks after the initial trade between Powerade and Petron Blaze was vetoed (and met with so much venom you'd think the San Miguel franchise suddenly became the local, basketball version of the WWE heel stable Evolution), it's now back on the table with the same lead players but different support/ spare parts.



Powerade gets

Rabeh Al Hussaini (PF/C)
- a front line of Hussaini and Doug Kramer would be an Ateneo alum's wet dream and just a beast of a combination for the future. With Powerade, Hussaini instantly becomes their best player in the low/high post while Eagle buddy Kramer concentrates on rebounding and hustling for the ball. Of all the young and promising bigs in the PBA today (JayR Reyes, Magi Sison, Sonny Thoss, Rob Reyes, etc.),  Hussaini is by far the best in terms of offensive basketball IQ. Problem is, he has the maturity level of a five-year old and constantly whines and complains whenever he's not getting the ball or calls from the refs. Fortunately for Hussaini, he'll have a champion vet who'll have his ear for as long as they play together in Rommel Adducul-- a hard working, dominant big who went about his business on the court in a very admirable, professional manner until health issues got in the way.

Lordy Tugade (SG)
- never really played to his potential once setting foot in the pros. Back in the PBL, this guy was an absolute beast. Like the great Allan Caidic but on a very mean, "F.U." streak. If he ever decides to play his game, a Tugade-David scoring combo would be flat out orgasmic for coach Bo Perasol. Unfortunately, his best years were all in the late 90s.

Rey Guevarra (SG)
- an immediate upgrade over the Tigers' 8th man Francis Allera. The talent and potential is there, but RG has never really been able to showcase his game in the pros.  Hopefully, with the way the Tigers play, he is able to showcase some of that athleticism and high flying act that made him famous while playing for Letran in college.

Petron gets

Lassiter: taking his talents to Petron

Marcio Lassiter (SG)
- this guy can do it all except pick his spots on the floor. Defensively, he fights for every possession and has great basketball instincts. On offense, he'll be the game-changing slasher/ take-over guy that the Boosters seem to lack while not giving up anything on the other end (because Coach Ato doesn't have any faith in Joseph Yeo's D).

Celino Cruz (PG)
- finally. A decent back-up for Alex Cabagnot who was obviously struggling due to fatigue (though he won't admit it) last conference. In the Philippine Cup, the KKS Wizard was dazzling fans and opponents with clutch plays and nifty passes. In the Commish Cup, the guy had bricks for rubber shoes and was just slow to get up and down the court. At this point, Denok Miranda seems to be stuck as Coach Ato's pet defensive-minded SG so we won't complain (as long as our boy gets his minutes!). Look for Cruz to be the 3rd string guard though once Coach Ato goes for a line-up of Cabagnot-Lutz-Lassiter with Miranda-Yeo-Hontiveros/ Agustin all coming off the bench. Scary? Yes. Hell yes.

Thanks to our friend Matthew for pointing out the last trade that brought Chico Lanete in for Marc Agustin. It's going to be tough for Lanete to get any burn with Cabagnot and Miranda as sure locks and Cruz being a better shooter than he is.

The verdict

Was it a fair deal? This writer says no. Hussaini's immaturity makes him a huge risk for any team and that's the biggest thing at this point (he's been in the league for more than 2 years so yeah, it's an issue) that is keeping him from being a marketable PBA star. Lassiter's bound to make big waves anywhere he plays because of his high-impact style. The Cruz trade also gives the Boosters the advantage in terms of them getting two scorers for one who's a black hole in the post.

Better trade for the Tigers? Yeo-Hussaini for Lassiter-Cruz. Straight up.

But that's not how the PBA works. Hope things work out for the players and teams involved.

Sucks for Perasol, the Tigers' fans and one Gary David who just saw his Scottie Pippen leave. If you're Sean Anthony, this is the golden opportunity you've been waiting for since that breakout game in the Philippine Cup Finals.