DILLINGER TO MERALCO IN 3-WAY TRADE; 4 OTHERS IN NEW TEAMS
In the stillness of the PBA season break, MVP Group teams Talk n Text and Meralco struck a trade deal with Barako Bull involving five players Monday.
The Tropang Texters, the Bolts and the Energy Cola agreed on a three-way trade transaction involving Jared Dillinger, Don Allado, Sean Anthony, Ronjay Buenafe and Gilbert Bulawan.
The Bolts, still working to put together a winning team, added some ceiling and quickness in their lineup in acquiring the services of Dillinger and Allado.
Dillinger, the Fil-Am player who’s supposed to be with Gilas Pilipinas in its Lithuanian training if not for an injury sustained in car mishap, first went to Barako Bull from Talk n Text for Anthony.
The former University of Hawaii stalwart eventually landed at Meralco together with Allado in a succeeding swap for Buenafe and Bulawan.
Meralco is Dillinger’s second team after four seasons and two conferences with Talk n Text that selected him second pick overall in the 2008 rookie draft.
Through the 2011-12 season, the 6-foot-4 guard/forward averaged 8.5 points and 3.5 rebounds.
He was part of Gilas Pilipinas team that placed fourth in the fourth FIBA Asia Cup in Tokyo, Japan last year.
In Allado, the Bolts acquired a veteran center who could impart a thing or two to JayR Reyes and Vic Manuel.
Allado is among the league’s senior players, Alaska’s direct hire back in the 1999 campaign.
Coach Ryan Gregorio hopes Dillinger and Allado help them achieve a major breakthrough.
Through eight conferences after taking over the Sta. Lucia Realty franchise, Meralco has yet to make a single Final Four appearance.
Barako Bull, meanwhile, now has a possible new take-charge guy in Buenafe and young blood in Bulawan. (SB)
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