Let the madness begin... The Return of Asi

Can the Cool Cat shine anew in a different system?
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

So the two camps have finally reached a middle ground.

After weeks of endless discussion and possible (and fantasy) trade scenarios, the Meralco Bolts have agreed to give its rights to inactive (re: moonlighting/ reigning ASEAN Basketball Most Valuable Player) big man Asi Taulava to the Air21 Express in exchange for the (equally) resuscitated career of point guard Mike Cortez.

Now if you're naive enough to believe that Taulava is going to stay put and suit up for the Express and is in it for the long haul,  well, good for you. But it doesn't take much rewinding, research and exploring to connect the dots and see where this is going to.

Taulava has always said, upon moving to the ABL, that he only wishes to return to the PBA IF, and that's a very big IF for a 40-year-old here, he gets to play for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Well, they don't call them "Hari ng Padala" for nothing.

The trade could possibly put into motion pending deals such as Petron Blaze's Joseph Yeo for the Express' Bitoy Omolon. Then Ginebra's Kerby Raymundo for James Sena- no, wait. They have a guy who's pretty much in the same "old" boat as Raymundo in-- ding ding ding Asi Taulava. Then they could readily send Raymundo to Meralco, for, one of their now bumper crop of backup point guards quite possibly (since that's what the Express will lack once they let go of Cortez).

Other trades could go down, but this deal makes everyone a winner.

The Express lands the much coveted scorer (not to mention head coach Franz Pumaren's homeboy) in Joseph Yeo. The Bolts land a smart point guard in Cortez who plays under control, while allowing rising point guard Chris Ross to take a step back (maybe learn to shoot jumpers with consistency) and use him in less minutes (lessening his penchant for turnovers). They also get Raymundo, who Bolts' head coach Ryan Gregorio believes is the missing piece in his attempt to rebuild/restart his past success. Ginebra gets the big man they think they need in Taulava, while waiting for Japeth Aguilar to return from injury (and mature) and even draft another big man next season.

That's the first move. Let's see what else is in store.