RABEH IS A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH – COACH RYAN G
Rabeh Al-Hussaini was the main figure in a three-team deal involving Talk n Text, Air21 and Meralco that was approved by PBA Commissioner Chito Salud Monday afternoon.
And the Bolts are hoping the former Ateneo slotman will play to his potential and step up to be one of the league’s dominant big men.
“We are balancing our roster,” said Meralco head coach Ryan Gregorio after the deal was okayed. “With no Draft picks in 2013, we needed a center to match up against the current big men in the league and others who will join the Draft.
“Rabeh is a diamond in the rough. He will surely add ceiling to our roster. At 6-8, he can definitely match up well against those big guys.”
The first in the series of trades involved Air21 and Talk n Text with the Express acquiring Rabeh Al-Hussaini. In return, Air21 sent Rob Reyes and the Express’ second round pick in the 2015 Draft to the Tropang Texters.
Air21 then shipped Al-Hussaini to Meralco along with Bitoy Omolon for the tandem of Mark Cardona and Nonoy Baclao.
“Bitoy Omolon will give us another defender in the small forward position,” added Gregorio.
“It was truly hard to let go of Mac-Mac. But he is a main player in this transaction. Hard as it is, we had to let him go. The nice part is that he will be reunited with his college coach. So I am certain that it will be a seamless transition for him. I wish him well,” coach Ryan added.
In the final swap, the Express dealt Baclao and Eric Salamat to Talk n Text for the Texters’ Bam Gamalinda and Pamboy Raymundo.
“Maangas na Air21 nito when the next season opens,” said Air21 Governor and team manager Lito Alvarez. “Imagine we will be having Asi Taulava at center, Vic Manuel at power forward, KG Canaleta at small forward, Cardona and Joseph Yeo at shooting guard and Bonbon Custodio at the point.
“Tingin ko palaban na ito.”
In the end, TNT got Baclao, Salamat, Reyes and the Express’ 2nd round pick in the 2015 Draft. Baclao and Salamat played for Texters coach Norman Black in Ateneo.
“It’s a win-win situation for all teams involved,” said Talk n Text alternate governor Pato Gregorio. “The trades addressed the teams’ needs in the end. The teams got better, and the players found themselves in better situations.” (JL)
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