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Ginebra has a strong lineup, but coach Tim Cone is already looking at the future. The team wants to get high draft picks and willing to trade players to do it. The players on the trading block are Jeff Chan, Jared Dillinger and Art Dela Cruz. Two more also being mentioned, Kent Salado and Raymond Aguilar. Ginebra is willing to trade 3 of these players to get another pick in the next draft. It promises to be a rich draft with Dwight Ramos, Kobe paras, Justin Baltazar, Jason Brickman, Jeremiah Grey and other standouts applying. The Gin Kings are hoping they can get another pick to make their lineup even stronger. The purpose and goal is to win a grand slam. They are the only SMC team that does not have a grand slam. Cone wants to change that. There is no telling which team Ginebra can get the picks from, but most likely it is Terra Firma or Northport. If Tim Cone can trade these players and get a quality rookie, the Grand Slam for Ginebra may become a reality.

It won't be long before Junmar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter are in one team. Reports have it that SMB is going to trade 3 players to get the Northport big man. They are James Sena, Alfonzo Gotladera and a guard. SMB just signed up Sena and Gotladera to back up Fajrdo. But apparently the long term goal is to use them as trade pieces. There is no word yet on who the guard is, but it could be Von Pessumal or Paul Zamar. Or it could be one of the aging starters. If San Miguel does get Slaughter without giving up Tautuaa, they will have the biggest frontcourt in the PBA. This could be the key to getting the Grand Slam for SMB. This trade will not happen before the Philippine Cup. SMB will use this conference to assess the performance and health of Fajardo. If he is not the same player before the injury, then expect Slaughter to be a Beerman soon.

Arvin Tolentino had a solid first season with Ginebra, but now there are reports he might not remain with the Gin kings. In fact he might be asking for a trade. Why would he given he had a solid season and just won a championship? The issue is playing time. Tolentino plays small forward and alternates with Aljon Mariano. But Jared Dillinger played well too and is expected to get more minutes. Art Dela Cruz is returning from an injury. And their two rookies, ken Sagulo and Brian Enriquez, both can play the 3 as well. Arvin might not get enough minutes on the court. And if you are new to the league, you need playing time to build your confidence. That is why many feel Arvin would be better off ie he was playing for another team. One where he can get more minutes and reach his potential. But will Ginebra let him go?

The Scottie Thompson trade rumors refuse to go away. Now there are reports management is looking to send him to Phoenix for Matthew Wright. The trade proposal will include not just Scottie but probably another player or draft pick. While Scottie is a valuable player, Matthew Wright is on another level. He can give Ginebra the shooter they really need.  If Wright goes to Ginebra they will really become a super team. We have also heard rumors that Wright wants out of Phoenix. TNT is said to be interested in him as well and are offering Bobby Ray Parks Jr.  Which will Phoenix choose, Thompson or Parks? It probably depends which other players or picks are included with Scottie.  Also keep in mind that some in Ginebra management want to keep Scottie. We already know Tim Cone said he loves having Scottie on the team.

 It looks like Bobby Ray Parks may get his wish and play for Ginebra after all.  TNT has been trying to talk with Parks and convince him to return. But he doesn't seem interested. What we do know is that Parks has always wanted to play for Ginebra. And if TNT cannot get him to play for them, he might be traded to the Gin Kings. The question is who will TNT ask for in return? Parks, for all the issues surrounding him, is a franchise player. He commands a high price and TNT will not settle for anythin less. There is no question Ginebra wants Parks, and Parks wants to play there. But it depends on who Ginebra is willing to offer.

Robert Bolick may soon find himself in a San Miguel jersey. According to reports, SMB is willing to trade 2 time finals MVP Chris Ross for the young Northport point guard. Ross has played a major role in helping SMB win numerous championships including 5 straight Philppine Cup titles. But last season Fajardo was injured and the Beermen lost the crown. It was no just Fajardo as Ross and Cabagnot were also slowed down by injuries. Arwind Santos is healthy but is now 40 years old. Management is looking for young blood, and that means Robert Bolick. A backcourt featuring Bolick, CJ Perez and Terrence Romeo will reinvigorate the Beermen. Even though Bolick is coming off an injury, many believe he will be able to come back stronger than ever. The question is, who will the Beermen give up to get Bolick? That remains to be seen. 

Rumors are flying thick and fast that NLEX coach Yeng Guiao is on his way out. Not just out of NLEX, but probably out of the MVP group. Apparently Guiao is not happy with the way NLEX is being treated, almost like a farm team. First there was Poy Erram who was traded to TNT. Guiao said publicly he did not want to trade Erram because he felt he and Kiefer Ravena made a good combination. But the trade happened anyway. Erram ended up at TNT. The consolation for Guiao is they had the number 3 and 4 picks in the draft. But the number 4 pick, which turned out to be Mikey Williams, also ended up at TNT. Guiao wanted both Oftana and Williams, but management told him to trade the pick. Guiao is reportedly no longer happy with this. For this reason many blieve he will leave NLEX. Will he end up at SMC? Guiao is a close friend of Alfrancis Chua. 

Ginebra San Miguel is serious about beefing up their lineup, and that may mean parting ways with Jeff Chan. There are reports Ginebra wants to trade Chan for another scorer, said to be Rey Nambatac or Robbie Herndon. Chan was acquired by Ginebra from Rain or Shine to bolster their shooting. While he has shown flashes of brilliance, Chan is also often injured so Cone has been unable to use him consistently. If Ginebra gets Herndon, they will have a 6'4" wingman who can hit the three. He can be like a Marcio Lassiter or Anthony Semerad. The same with Nambatac who is also a good scorer and can make things happen as a point guard. The question though is will Jeff Chan be enough? He is not getting any younger and injuries have slowed him down. A Chan for Nambatac trade might not be enough, and Ginebra might have to add another player or pick.  The same with Herndon, as Alaska might want another player. So let us wait and see if Ginebra  will indeed trade Jeff Chan.

 Pau Fajardo, Scottie Thompson's ex-girlfriend, broke her silence 3 days after Thompson married former flight attendant Jinky Serrano. Fajardo reactivated her Instagram account and posted a message, stating it will be the first and last time she will speak about this matter. She said she was deeply hurt and saddened because she had been prepared to spend the rest of her life with Scottie. Scottie and Pau had been dating for 8 years. Last New Year, Scottie announced they were engaged. But in April they split up and less than two months later, Thompson married Serrano. Fajardo said she was heartbroken. She also said she did not want to speak out publicly, but felt this was the only way to put an end to all the speculations surrounding her.  After issuing her statement, Fajardo asked everyone to respect her privacy and assured her loved ones that she will be better.

Ginebra already has a formidable lineup, what with the addition of Christian Standhardinger. But now it looks like coach Tim Cone wants another shooter by the name of Rey Nambatac of Rain or Shine. Nambatac has been a revelation at Rain or Shine. He was not talked about much during his rookie year. But he has shown he can deliver in the clutch. There are now reports Ginebra is interested in Nambatac and is talking with Rain or Shine about a possible trade. If Ginebra gets Nambatac, that will boost the backcourt of the Gin Kings. Nambatac is a good 3 point shooter who can space the floor for japeth Aguilar and Christian Standhardinger.  Nambatac can also play point guard and allow LA Tenorio to rest. Or he can play shooting guard along with Stanley Pringle. Together they will give Tim Cone more options. For a long time now, Ginebra has always wanted a good outside shooter. Jeff Chan plays that role, but when he is injured there is no one to fill up the spot. Nambatac can be that pla...

In spite of the controversies surrounding Scottie Thompson, Ginebra coach Tim Cone said they will not trade the guard. Cone said Thompson is an important part of Ginebra. He is key to their winning ways so he will stay with the team. Cone also said what happend to Scottie is personal and is nobody's business but his. Social media is still talking about Thompson and his marriage to Jinky Serrano, but to Ginebra it is not an issue. The team is focused on winning, and personal issues are set aside. So Ginebra fans can rest easy, knowing Scottie will not be traded. This is not the case with Magnolia, which has not said anything about the Jio jalalon trade rumors. Then again, the situation of Scottie is very different from Jalalon.

 People in social media are still talking about the controversial wedding of Ginebra star Scottie Thompson to Jinky Serrano, just a couple of months after breaking up with longtime girlfriend Pau Fajardo. Coach Tim Cone said this is a personal matter, but it has affected Ginebra. According to reports, Thompson and fellow Ginebra player Aljon Mariano are no longer talking. Mariano's girlfriend, Kaysha Chua, is a close friend of Fajardo. In an Instagram post, Chua said she fully supports Fajardo. She also said she, Mariano and Kevin Ferrer - a close friend of Scottie - tried to reach out to Thompson when they learned he and Pau were having problems. But he ignored them. Now the report is that Scottie and Aljon are avoiding each other at practice. This could affect the chemistry of Ginebra. Will this force Ginebra to trade him? This brings to mind the situation Magnolia is in. They reportedly want to trade Jio Jalalon because he too is embroiled in controversy. Will Ginebra do the sam...

Is Northport big man Greg Slaughter headed to San Miguel? There is a strong possibility it will happen. It depends on Junmar Fajardo actually. Fajardo missed the Philippine Cup bubble due to an injury, and as a result San Miguel was unable to defend its crown. Fajardo is practicing now with SMB, but he admits he is not 100% yet. If Fajardo can no longer play like he used to, Greg Slaughter will be traded to SMB. Fajardo and Slaughter will form a formidable frontline for San Miguel to ensure the team remains competitive. Mo Tautuaa is a solid player, but he is used to playing power forward. He will take the place of Arwind Santos who is already 40 years old. San Miguel needs a center who can give Fajardo rest. And because of that injury Fajardo can no longer play heavy minutes like he used to.  Greg Slaughter fits the bill. He will be a solid complement to Fajardo. The only question is who will SMB offer to get Slaughter on the team.  If the trade happens, SMB and Ginebra will ...

There have been many big trades in the history of the PBA. A Bobby Ray Parks for Matthew Wright would definitely be one of the biggest.  Parks did not renew his contract with TNT Tropang Giga after the PBA Bubble. He is on a sabbatical citing family and personal reasons. This angered the MVP group, who said Parks wasn't being honest about why het refused to sign with TNT. There are speculations Parks was not happy with the contract TNT offered him. There are reports Parks and TNT are still negotiating, but if nothing happens, TNT is willing to trade him for Matthew Wright. But why would Phoenix trade Matthew Wright for Parks? They are both superstars and are equal value. But would you trade a dependable Wright for Parks? Phoenix might not have a choice because Wright reportedly wants out of Phoenix. The reasons are unclear, but it might have something to do with the uncertainty surrounding the franchise.  Businessman Dennis Uy, who owns Phoenix, wants to sell Phoenix to pay of...

If plans push through, there will be a massive, 5 team trade involving Barangay Ginebra, Magnolia, Phoenix, Alaska and Rain or Shine. This is how the blockbuster trade is supposed to unfold: Ginebra receives:  Robbie Herndon Alaska receives:  Jio Jalalon Rain or Shine receives: Jorey Napoles Rome Dela Rosa Jared Dillinger jesper Ayaay Ginebra's season 49 2nd round pick Magnolia receives: Beau Belga Jansen Rios Adrian Wong Alaska's season 47 2nd round pick Phoenix receives: Mikee DiGregorio This is still under negotiations and there is no word yet if it will push through. Alaska is reportedly having second thoughts. But Alaska is already over the Fil-Foreigner limit of five, so there is no question they have to let at least one go. So it is not surprising to see Herndon and DiGregorio mentioned in trade talks. Trade rumors about Beau Belga have been circulating for a long time, and many believe ROS acquired Bradwyn Guinto specifically because they expect Belga to be traded. Jio...