TEXTERS BAG J-WASH, GANUELAS
Talk n Text has loaded its arsenal with additional artillery for the coming PBA hardcourt wars.
Jay Washington, a Gilas Pilipinas reserve who played his first three PBA seasons with Talk n Text before moving over to San Miguel Beer and then GlobalPort, is back with the Tropang Texters. Tagging along is the high-leaping neophyte Matt Ganuelas, whom many see as loaded with the potential to be one of the league’s future stars.
The series of deals involving Talk n Text, GlobalPort and NLEX approved by the Commissioner’s Office Monday evening had the Batang Pier and the Texters first swapping players with Washington moving to TNT for Nonoy Baclao, rookie Harold Arboleda and the Texters’ second round pick in the 2018 Rookie Draft.
The second transaction had GlobalPort shipping Arboleda, the 2018 second round pick from TNT and a second round pick in 2016 that it acquitted from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in a previous trade for NLEX’s Matt Ganuelas, the No. 4 overall pick in the recent Rookie Draft.
Finally, the Batang Pier sent Ganuelas to Talk n Text for the latter’s first round pick in the 2017 Rookie Draft.
Both Washington and Baclao are both headed for a sort of homecoming.
While Washington is returning to his original team, Baclao is to be reunited with his former bosses in the Harbour Centre team that ruled the inaugural ASEAN Basketball League.
Curiously, both are former top draft selections by Air21 dealt to another team.
Washington provides the Texters additional scoring sock while Baclao brings over to the Batang Pier his penchant to play tough defense.
Washington, the 2005 draft top choice, spent his first three PBA seasons with Talk n Text under coach Chot Reyes before being shipped out to San Miguel Beer in 2008. Then after five years with San Miguel/Petron, he found himself being traded to GlobalPort.
He’s moving back to Talk n Text after logging a career-best norm of 20.8 points a game as a Batang Pier last year.
Meanwhile, Baclao, the 2010 top draftee, is jumping over to GlobalPort after putting in career-best averages of 5.7 points and 6.5 rebounds as a Texter. (SB)
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