MANILA – NorthPort Batang Pier continues to bolster its roster. They are engaging Terrafirma Dyip in a four-player trade that is pending the approval of the PBA Commissioner’s Office.
Based on the trade deal, Batang Pier is set to acquire Filipino-American winger Joshua Munzon and rookie Javi Gomez de Liaño from the Dyip.
Terrafirma, on the other hand, will have veteran gunner Kevin Ferrer, seldom-used forward Mer Jesper Ayaay and 2023 and 2025 second round draft rights.
Munzon, the top-overall pick in the 2021 PBA Rookie Draft, failed to find his ground with the Dyip as he averaged just 8.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 steals in the Commissioner’s Cup.
Gomez de Liano, the eighth pick in the 2022 PBA Draft by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings before being swapped to the Dyip, normed 6.52 points, 3.04 rebounds, and 1.26 assists in 23 games played.
Munzon and Gomez de Liano are expected to get their much-needed break at the Batang Pier, which is reportedly dead serious to become a contender now in the PBA.
Munzon and Gomez de Liano were the second and third new acquisition of the Batang Pier this offseason after getting Ilonggo Paul Zamar from San Miguel Beermen for Allyn Bulanadi.
Terrafirma, on the other hand, got two veteran players with championship experiences during their brief stints with Barangay Ginebra in Ferrer and Ayaay.
Ferrer, who has two PBA title with Gin Kings before being traded to Batang Pier in 2019, has averages of 9.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 25 games played this 2022-2023 PBA Season.
Ayaay, who was part of Ginebra’s champion team in the 2021-2022 PBA Governors’ Cup, played 19 games this season with the Batang Pier but did not have much offensive contribution./PN
