Ranidel traded to Bolts; TNT gets Torres, Chua

[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]

[av_heading heading=’ Ranidel traded to Bolts; TNT gets Torres, Chua ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
[/av_heading]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
Wednesday. September 13, 2017
[/av_textblock]

[av_image src=’http://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/sports-meralco-trade.jpg’ attachment=’117260′ attachment_size=’full’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]

[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=”]
MANILA – TNT KaTropa ended its decades-long partnership with veteran forward Ranidel de Ocampo after sending him to sister team Meralco Bolts in a three-team, four-player trade.

In a deal approved during the trade deadline Monday night, KaTropa first sent de Ocampo to Phoenix Fuel Masters in exchange for Norbert Torres and a 2017 first-round pick (originally owned by San Miguel Beermen).

Fuel Masters then shipped de Ocampo to Bolts for Bacolod City native Justin Chua and its 2017 first-round draft pick. Fuel Masters then dealt Chua to KaTropa in exchange for a 2019 second-round draft pick.

Bolts head coach Norman Black said he did not think twice when de Ocampo was offered to them by KaTropa. He considers the former Gilas Pilipinas big man as a huge boost to their PBA Governors’ Cup playoff campaign.

“He played for me before, so I know what he can bring to the table,” Black said. “More than his experience and his skill set, we felt that we need more floor spacers. Ranidel can shoot from the perimeter every time our import (Allen Durham) gets double teamed.”

“We didn’t do well in the last two all-Filipino tournaments, and we felt that we need to strengthen our frontline to improve our chances in the all-Filipino,” he added. “We also don’t see any player in the draft that could be better than Ranidel when our turn comes.”

KaTropa team manager Virgil Villavicencio said that, while letting go of De Ocampo was a hard decision, they did it as part of a rebuilding process and to allow younger big men Jeth Troy Rosario and Moala Tautuaa to develop.

The PBA also approved Monday night the trade that sent Allein Maliksi and Chris Javier to Blackwater Elite, and Riego Gamalinda and Kyle Pascual to Star Hotshots./PN
[/av_textblock]

[/av_one_full]