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[av_heading heading=’ Cyrus Baguio heads to NLEX; Beau Belga suspended ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – NLEX Road Warriors got its hand on another former player of its head coach Yeng Guiao in a three-team, three-player trade amid the 2017 Oppo PBA Governors’ Cup.
Phoenix Fuel Masters shipped Cyrus Baguio to NLEX in exchange for Marnel Baracael and a 2020 second-round pick. Phoenix then sent Baracael to GlobalPort Batang Pier in exchange for Dylan Ababou.
The Philippine Basketball Association approved the trade on Tuesday.
Baguio, 36, was the third player to reunite with Guiao under Road Warriors, which acquired JR Quinahan and Larry Fonacier in separate trades early in the conference.
Baguio, a native of Iligan City, had his best years while playing for Guiao in Red Bull Barako before jumping from one team to another – Air 21 Express, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, Alaska Aces, and Fuel Masters.
BELGA SUSPENDED
Meanwhile, PBA Commissioner Andres Narvasa slapped Rain or Shine Elasto Painters center Beau Belga with a one-game suspension and a P17, 500 fine.
Belga committed a flagrant foul when he hit Kia Picanto center Jason Ballesteros with a forearm on the face, and was later tagged with a technical foul for arguing with game officials in the ongoing PBA Governors’ Cup.
What Belga committed was an “unnecessary and obvious going-for-the-man-and-not-the-ball foul,” his “seventh technical foul of the season,” Narvasa said.
With the penalty, Belga will not be playing for Painters in its game against Star Hotshots on Aug. 27, when teammates Raymond Almazan and Gabe Norwood returns from their Gilas Pilipinas stint in the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon.
‘INSURANCE IMPORT’
With import Eugene Phelps nursing an injury, Phoenix was forced to bring in Brandon Brown as its new reinforcement.
Brown, 32, will serve as “insurance import” if ever Phelps will be out for a while due to a minor foot injury, head coach Ariel Vanguardia said.
“We just signed him (Brown) up for half a month since we want Eugene (Phelps) to completely heal,” said Vanguardia. “Brandon was great during practice.”
Vanguardia was particularly impressed with Brown’s showing during a tune-up match with De La Salle University Green Archers. “He (Brown) is also a veteran in serving as import,” said the coach.
The 6-foot-7 Brown was undrafted during the 2010 NBA Rookie Draft. He has previously played as import in Lithuania, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Cyprus, France, Poland, Greece, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
Phoenix will be back in action against Meralco Bolts on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
After starting the conference with two straight wins, it struggled in its last three matches, including an 86-92 loss to Blackwater Elite two weeks ago./PN
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