Four-team trade gets greenlight; JWash to Batang Pier

For the record, our favorite "scooperoo" and arguably the most polarizing local sports commentator Mr. Snow Badua reported it first as a "deal in the works."

Just a few hours after Talk'n'Text sent National team campaigner Jared Dillinger to Meralco, another trade has been green-lighted by the PBA this time involving some of the more popular and promising young talents in the land.

Where did THIS J-Wash go?

Barako Bull Energy Cola

Elmer Espiritu

Let's all be honest here, who expects Espiritu to actually break BB head coach Bong Ramos' rotation? With the recent acquisition of high scoring guard Ronjay Buenafe, JC Intal and Allein Maliksi are bumped up to their natural small forward positions. Having the same body type, Espiritu will be the third man out. We'd love to think that the former UE Red Warrior could get minutes at the four spot, but his thin frame doesn't help his case one bit.

Grade: B-

GlobalPort Batang Pier

Jay Washington

There is something terribly wrong with Washington the last few conferences. We don't know what it is exactly, but it goes beyond injuries. At least, that's what it has been made to look like anyway. Is it the overlapping of skillsets with Arwind Santos? We doubt it. Since Santos, by now, is clearly the better player (based on consistency, defense and hunger for the game. Washington leads only with his dribbling). Has Washington gone Marlou Aquino 2.0 on us? Yes. Yes he did. Numbers don't lie. We can see effort if it is there, we haven't seen it from this guy. Perhaps the trade to Batang Pier will help rebuild his confidence a bit. They'll be crazy fun to watch with Washington running with Gary David and Sol Mercado but overall, it's on the defensive end where this team needs a change in philosophy.

Grade: B+

Yousef Taha

Imagine that. A team actually won in a trade with an SMC outfit. Taha is the man in the middle that a run and gun squad like Batang Pier needs- a guy who can run, rebound, hustle and bang. They have grizzled vets like Jondan Salvador, Rommel Adducul and even Alex Crisano at one point this season, but those guys are aging fast. We aren't saying that Taha will be this team's savior, but given the minutes he'll be mighty serviceable in a beefy Cliff Hodge kind of way.

Grade: A-

2013 1st round pick

Any time you can increase your chances in a draft that has names like Slaughter, Sangalang and even RR Garcia to name a few gets a positive from us right off the bat.

Grade: A

Petron Blaze Boosters

Jason Deutchman

Unlike Washington who appeared as though he didn't know his place alongside Santos, Deutchman is coming in as a sub ayer and nothing more. Shoot some threes, play some defense and get some rebounds. That's all to be expected of Deutchman for now as he is still a rookie. This allows the whole Petron team to achieve some balance, with Santos and Junmar Fajardo as the legit frontline force for the next two to three years.

Grade: B+

2016 2nd round pick, 2017 2nd round pick

See GlobalPort.

Grade: A

We will discuss the Japeth Aguilar to Ginebra trade in full on a separate entry.