PBA Insider News

The much anticipated game between defending champion Ginebra and five time champion SMB last Sunday did not push thru. The reason given by the PBA was due to health protocols. According to reports, some Blackwater players tested positive, which is why their game vs. Phoenix was postponed. And since SMB was the last team BLackwater played, the PBA had to put them in health protocols. There are no results yet and the PBA nor SMB has spoken publicly. But insiders say results will come out in 2 to 3 days. If SMB players come out positive, they will have to sit out for a while just like TNT. That is unfortunate for the Beermen as they are on a 3 game winning streak. A lengthy break might rob them of their momentum. On the other hand, this does give more time for injured players like Terrence Romeo time to recover without missing too many games. Whatever the case, let us hope there are no positive results so the Beermen can continue to play. Because of these incidents, the PBA has had to res...

Ginebra beat Northport on a buzzer beater by Christian Standhardinger. After the game, Cone and Slaughter were seen talking.  According to coach Tim, he told great he played really well and showsing new weapons. In the game, Greg has 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Jerrick Balanza, another former Gin, also played well. Cone said Northport will be a threat against other teams, and he has a point. Northport lost to very close games to SMB and Ginebra, the top two powerhouses. Against other teams that do not have a big man, the Batang Pier should fare well. Which is why some fans now think it would be a shame if Northport were to break up their core just to give their top players to SMC. In the meantime though, coach Jarencio should focus on getting the most out of Greg. He played 42 minutes last night and showed he was in excellent condition. The other Northport players also played well, and it seems likethey are jelling at the right time. Now let us see how Greg and Northport fare ag...

  The Magnolia Hotshots are doing great right now, but as their team governor said, the team is always open to trades. And right now it looks like Northport wants to make a deal. Northport is willing to trade Jerrick Balanza for Jerrick Ahanmisi. The two guards play alikeand have similar styles, so this is a win win trade for both. But will it push thru? We know that Northport wanted Balanza from Ginebra, so why would they trade him? And Magnolia said the same thing about Jerrick Ahanmisi. But of course this is the PBA and anything can happen.  But for the moment it is probably best for the two Jerricks to remain where hey are. Give them another conference or so and then the teams can decide if they are fit or should be traded. Either way, Magnolia and Northport will benefit since the two have huge potential. Balanza played solid vs SMB and Ahanmisi is showing flashes of brilliance too. So this trade, if it happens, will be fair for both teams.

Barangay Gnebra wants to trade two players to Phoenix, but so far the Fuel Masters have not accepted. But the Kings have not given up yet. Sources say Ginebra wants Phoenix rookie Larry Muyang, and they are willing to trade their own rookie Ken Sagulo and sophomore guard Kent Salado. Ginebra coach Tim Cone admitted they wanted to trade up in the previous draft to get Muyang, but were unable to do so. Apparently the team is still very much interested in his services. But Phoenix does not want to trade him yet. At leat not with what Ginebra is offering. If the Gins change their offer, Phoenix might accept. It is easy to see why Ginebra wants Muyang. He is a mobile and agile big man who can play 3 or 4. He is like Noli Locsin, former Ginebra player who helped Ginebra win championships in the past. Sagulo and Saldo are good prospects who have not gotten playing time in Ginebra. They might get it in Phoenix, but again, the team wants more from Ginebra. So let us see if the Gin Kings will of...

There are reports saying Northprot will eventually trade star guard Robert Bolick to powerhouse SMB for 3 players. There are still negotiations, but the players are reportedly Alex Cabagnot, Alfonso Gotladera and James Sena. A future pick might be thrown in. There were doubts about Bolick since he had an ACL injury. But now with the way he is playing, there is no doubt he is a good fit for any team. SMB has an aging backcourt. Yes they have Romeo and CJ Perez, but they nee another guard in case of injury, as what happened to Romeo. Cabagnot is a good trade bait. He is old but can still play well and put up the points. Add two bigs and a pick and that should be enough for the PBA trade committee. When this trade will happen is anybody's guess. But many agree it will happen, just like the CJ Perez and Standhardinger trade were always bound to occur. It is only a matter of time. In fact the question people are asking now is how many Northport players will go to SMB or Ginebra. Bolick?...

The news of Phoenix being up for sale has not died down. Owner Dennis U said they are still looking for investors willing to pump money into the struggling company. For the nvestors though, they will do that if Phoenix cuts costs. And that might include their basketball team which is non essential. That would mean trading their top players to save on money, players like Matthew Wright and Jason Perkins. And as Arwind Santos said in an interview, they need another big man, and Perkins will fit the bill. Junmar Fajardo is their center and Arwind their power forward, but Mo Tautuaa has to play both positions.  SMB has Gotladera and Sena, but coach Austria is not using them. Instead Bambabm Gamalinda has been subbing Arwind, and he is undersized. With Perkins in the team, SMB can now field in whomever they want. But of course this is conjecture at this point. We have to wait and see what trades SMC pulls off in case Phoenix does go for sale. If Phoenix starts trading marquee players, t...

Greg Slaughter played his first game for Northport on Sunday vs. San Miguel. Northport lost but Greg put up 23 points, 17 rebounds and several dunks. He completely outplayed Junmar Fajardo of SMB. Now the question is did the Gin Kings make a mistake in trading Greg? Standhardinger is struggling to fit in Gnebra, which later lost to rival Magnolia. Slaughter fit right away with Northport and even showed off his three point shot. This is probably the reason why insiders believe that if Ginebra performs poorly this conference, there will be trades. CJ Perez and Calvin Abueva are doing great for their respective teams. But Christian is struggling. Of course it is just the first game of Greg. We will see how well Greg plays in the succeeding games. Their matchup with Ginebra will be exciting. Let us see how the two players traded for each other play. The thinkng is that Christian will be given a few more conferences to prove he is fit with Ginebra. But who knows, because the SMC big bosses ...

Don't look now, but Ginebra San Miguel is reportedly interested in Calvin Abueva. The Beast has been playing very well with Magnolia, helping the team with two straight wins. And he seems to be content there. Alfrancis Chua, with whom Abueva had a spat before, says he wants Calvin to retire at SMC. That does not mean he will stay forever at Magnolia. In fact many believe that Ginebra is trying to get him. No doubt Abueva would be a good fit with the Gins. His intense style will be appreciated by Ginebra fans. And he will be an asset for coach Tim. But Magnolia is not going to let him just like that. They will want a suitable replacement for him. They are sister teams but that is not a problem since other teams can come in the trade. But if SMC wants a trade this will happen. So let us see who Magnolia will want in return if they give up Abueva to Ginebra. Could we see a Standhardinger for Abueva trade? Who knows. With SMC nothing is impossible.

The Greg Slaughter issue continues, and now there are four teams reportedly interested in acquiring him. We know two of them are SMB and Magnolia. And if Greg will be traded, chances are it will be to either team since Northport is close to SMC. But things have gotten complicated. Magnolia has won two straight, and coach Victolera is thinking twice about pulling a trade. After all it might disrupt the team chemistry. SMB just came off a big win versus NLEX. And in that game Fajardo showed he is recovering. With Tautuaa playing so well, Leo might think twice about trading too. So who are the other two teams? Most likely they are from the MVP group. it could be NLEX since they really need a big man after losing Poy Erram. Or it could be an independent team like Phoenix or Alaska that wants to go big. But it is unlikely SMC will trade Greg there. What is clear is that in spite of the  controversies, there are a still a lot of teams interested in Greg Slaughter. And that is understanda...

We all knew that SMC has its eye on Jamie Malonzo. But now there are reports the company is also bent on getting Troy Rike. Rike scored 20 pts including 6 threes in Northport's win over Phoenix. The game also had Malonzo scoring 15 points. So it is no surprise that SMC wants to get Rike. But which team will get him? We can probably rule out Ginebra. They already have Christian Standhardinger, Japeth Aguilar and Prince Caperal. So that leaves Magnolia and San Miguel. Both teams need a big man. The answer will depend on Greg Slaughter. If SMB gets Slaughter, Magnolia will get Rike, and vice versa. Of course there is the question why Northport would give them up, but we know why. The same reason TerraFirma an Blackwater gie up theri quality players to the SMC and MVP group. So let us wait for the inevitable when Northport trades Rike, Slaughter and Malonzo to SMC. And let us not forget Robert Bolick too.

Before the game against Phoenix - which Northport would go on to win - coach Pido Jarencio was asked why Greg Slaughter was not playing. Pido said Greg himself asked not to be fielded in, but that he may play the next game. Slaughter promptly went on social media and said this was not true. He is fit and ready to play, but Northport refuses to field him in. Greg made his coach look like a liar, so who is telling the truth here? Greg has been the subject of a lot of trade rumors. And the latest is the tug of war between SMB and Magnolia. The Hotshots are willing to offer Jio Jalalon and a first round pick for Greg. No word yet who SMB will give up. With the way Troy Rike is playing, it might probably be for the best if Greg was traded. Rike is young and needs all the minutes to gain confidence and experience. The question is where will Northport send Greg/ With what Greg said, coach Jarencio is probably not too happy about it. So it is probably just a matter of time before Greg is back ...

Coach Pido Jarencio of Northport said Greg Slaughter still wont be playing for Northport, but did not give a reason why.  Reports are Greg might be traded to Magnolia for Jio Jalaon and a first round pick. But there is a problem. San Miguel also wants Greg Slaughter just in case Fajardo takes longer to recover and get back his old game. While Tautuaa is there, he prefers to play power forward and SMB needs him there to play with Arwind Santos. Another thing. Greg only wants to play for Ginebra or SMB. Obviousy he cannot go back to Ginebra. He was just traded for Standhardinger. SMB yes, he can be traded there, but for whom? SMB might give up Ross, Cabagnot or any of their guards.  But what about Magnolia? They need a big man too. So this is the problem facing SMC right now. And what will Northport do if Greg refuses to play? Will they sanction him? We have to wait and see. Right now we can only watch and wait when Greg will play. And we do not even know for which team that wil...

At least two sources have confirmed that Jamie Malonzo will be traded to SMB, but no bench players this time. He will be traded for starters, most likely Chris Ross and / or Alex Cabagnot. Malonzo showed flashes in his first game, and SMC management is reportedly eager to get their hands on him. in exchange they are willing to trade Ross and Cabagnot. Ross and Cabagnot have helped SMB win multiple championships, but age and injuries have slowed them down. In the last game, Ross had a sprained ankle. No telling how long he will be out or if he will miss any games, but it is clear he is not 100%. Cabagnot was not used a lot in the game against Meralco, leading to speculation he is not 100% either. And it was obvious too SMB needed a forward as coch Austria had no choice but to go with Arwind even though he kept missing. if Malonzo is traded to SMB, it will be a changing of the guard. Perez and Romeo will be the top backcourt duo, and then Malonzo will eventually take Arwind's place.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial has apologized to the fans following the confusion over the PBA airing of games. He explained that the PBA contract with TV 5 is only for the airing of certain games on specific play dates. But the commissioner stressed they are doing everything they can to air the games in as many different platforms as possible. The new schedules:

Reports are rife that two PBA teams are now up for sale. The reason? The economic slowdown has made it difficult for the teams to manage their expenses.  The two are said to be Blackwater and Phoenix. Blackwater owner Dioceldo Sy has himself confirmed Blackwater is facing financial difficulties. That is the reason they decided not to field a team in the PBA 3x3 tournament. Phoenix on the other hand, has been the subject of sale talks for a while. The owner of Phoenix Petroleum, Dennis Uy, said he is willing to sell the company to pay debts. if the two teams are sold, what will happen? One possibility is other companies will buy them. In spite of the economic situation, many companies still want to join the PBA. They will be happy to buy either Phoenix or Blackwater at the right price. The other is that no company buys them, and the PBA is reduced to 9 teams. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but many will be disappointed to see Phoenix go since it is an indepdent team. Few will ...

 The PBA bubble is literally only a day old, but there are reports a high flying Fil-Am rookie will be traded soon. The rookie will be traded to the franchise team of a top company. No names were given, but we can guess who they are. There are plenty of athletic Fil-am rookies, but the one that comes to mind is of course Jamie Malonzo, the number 2 pick playing for Northport. Malonzo showed flashes of brilliance inhis first game, and he will only get better. The team Malonzo will be traded to? Based on the clues that will be San Miguel. San Miguel is the franchise team of SMC, and Ramon Ang, SMC CEO, owns part of North Harbor. So if SMC wants Malonzo, they can get him, the same way they got Christian Standhardinger and CJ Perez. The only question in most fans' mind is when this will take place. Malonzo will probably play a couple of conferences at Northport, just to give him time to hone his skills. But it will also depend on how the Beermen perform. If the Beermen struggle in the ...

Ginebra is already a favorite, but there are persistent rumors that the team wants to be even stronger by adding more players. Two names often linked to Ginebra are Bobby Ray Parks and Matthew Wright. Parks has made it clear he wants to play for Ginebra. But the situation he has found himself in makes trading him difficult. TNT owns his trade rights, and they wil not release him without a suitable replacement.  There is also the possibility that Parks might end up going overseas to play. He might follow the route of Thirdy Ravena and other players who decide to play elsewhere. The other name is Matthew Wright. There are reports Phoenix might be up for sale. Its owner Dennis Uy said he is willing to sell the company to pay debts, and the new owner might not be a big PBA fan. This uncertainy is the reason why Wright may want out. And what better place to go than the most popular team in the land? Of course it will depend on trade negotiations. But what is clear is that Ginebra is not...

There are reports going around that Ginebra forward Arvin Tolentino is asking for a trade. Now why would he do that given he had just won a championship with Ginebra? According to reports, Arvin is worried he might not get enough playing time at Ginebra. We know that the Gin Kings are loaded at every position. And that includes the wings and small forward where Arvin plays. He shares minutes with Aljon Mariano. But now Jared Dillinger is playing well and they also have Brian Enriquez. There is the possibility Arvin will no longer get the minutes he needs to improve his game. This is probably the reason why he wants a trade, if true. But where will Ginebra trade him just in case? No question a lot of teams will be interested in a 6'5" three point shooter. But expect Ginebra to ask for something substantial inreturn if Tolentino does get traded. Tolentino would fit nicely with Magnolia for instance, as he can play like Adrech Ramos or Robbie Herndon. He can also find a good spot...

A massive trade is reportedly being planned right now, involving San Miguel Beer, Magnolia and Northport Batang Pier. According to the reports, SMB will receive Greg Slaughter and Robert Bolick. Magnolia will get Moala Tautuaa, and Northport gets Chris Ross, Jio Jalalon, Kyle Pascual, James Sena, Alfonso Gotladera and future first round picks from SMB and Magnolia. SMB really wants Slaughter to team up with Fajardo since they are not sure how well Fajardo has recovered from his injury. And they also want Bolick to replace their aging backcourt comprised of Ross and Cabagnot. A teamup of CJ Perez, Robert Bolick and Terrence Romeo will be tough to beat. For Magnolia, everyone knows they need a big man to help Ian Sangalang, especially now that Marc Pingris has retired. Tautuaa could be just what the doctor ordered for coach Chito Victolero's team. Tautuaa is a big man who can run the break, score on the outside and post up. Tis can mean various opportunities for Magnolia. Northport w...

 It looks like Ginebra rookies Ken Sagulo and Brian Enriquez may not remain with the Gin Kings for long.  Ken Sagulo or Ken Holmsqvist has been the subject of trade talks, the latest is that he wil be sent to Alaska along with other players for wingman Robbie Herndon.  Enriquez meanwhile, is an intriguing prospect, someone who can play the wings, shooting guard or point guard. A lot of teams like Phoenix, TNT and Rain or Shine will probably want to take a look at him. Of the two, Sagulo is the most likely to be traded. Ginebra already has a solid froncourt and he will not get a lot of minutes there. He might be better off at another team that can actually use him. With Enriquez, he might get some minutes, though Pringle, Tenorio and Thompson will get the bulk of the playing time. Plus there is new reruit MJ  Ayaay and Kent Salado. So from the looks of it, the two Ginebra rookies will likely end up playing elsehwere. 

  Ginebra is determined to get a shooter and wingman, and it looks like their target is Robbie Herndon of Alaska. The Gin Kings are willing to trade Kent Salado, Jared Dillinger, Art de la Cruz and rookie Ken Sagulo. Alaska has exceeded the number of fil foreigners allowed per team, so they have to let one go. The most often mentioned is Herndon, but it remains to b seen if the Aces will accept the offer. The biggest catch here is Sagulo, or Ken Holmqvist. He is 6'8" and with lots of potential. Coach Jeff Cariaso can pair him with Ben Adamos, Barkely Ebona and Abu Tratter, giving them a solid frontcourt. And guys like Dillinger and Dela Cruz can provide experience and Salado might get playing time at last.  For Ginebra, getting Robbie Herndon means they will just get stronger. He will complement the inside plays of Standhardinger, Aguilar and Caperal and give Pringle and Tenorio another option. 

Magnolia wants to trade guard Jio Jalalon to TNT, and they will include draft picks as well, sources said. Jalalon has been the subject of trade rumors ever since the contronversies surrouding him. But even before that, there were reports Magnolia wanted to unload him anyway because they already have Jerrick Ahanmisi. Several destinations have been reported, including Northport for Kevin Ferrer. But now it looks like Troy Rosario could be the one.  Rosario has long been a mainstay at TNT, but management is reportedly with his performance in the last finals vs. Ginebra. This is the reason why the team is open to trade him.  Troy for Jio alone may not be sufficient, which is why Magnolia will add draft picks. If this happens, Magnolia will finally get a big man who can complement the game of Ian Sangalang. 

Ginebra San Miguel is looking to add more firepower not just now, but in the coming conferences. And their target is the number 1 draft pick Joshua Munzon of TerraFirma. PBA rules state the number one pick cannot be traded for one season. But with the PBA down to just one or two conferences, we might see Munzon in a Ginebra jersey soon Coach Tim Cone reportedly wants Munzon to take the place of LA Enorio when he retires or slows down. Munzon is versatile enough to play shooting guard, point or wingman, something Cone will like. But this trade will not happen yet. Ginebra and SMC management will wait and see how Munzon performs in TerraFirma. If he lives up to the hype, expect him to don a Gniebra jersey soon. Tenorio will not be traded to TerraFirma. Munzon will join the team and be his heir apparent. As to who Ginebra will give, the answer is most likely bench players. If this happens, we can expect Ginebra to continue being competitive and fighting for the championship every conferen...

  After SMB failed to defend the Philippine Cup, rumors began circulating about a revamp and big trades. Now it seems like the coach might included too. Leo Austria has been a very successful coach, winning 8 championships with the Beermen including 5 straight Philippine Cup titles. But some believe his reliance on the starting five especially Junmar Fajardo, contributed to his injury. Now that the Beermen's death 5 is aging and may be replaced, is it time to get a new coach as well? it is unlikely Austria will be replaced before the Philippine cup. More likely this conference will be a referendum for his performance, and that of veterans like Ross and Cabagnot.  If the Beermen underperform, expect those players to be traded. And perhaps a coaching change as well.

Ginebra is said to be trading 2 players in an effort to strengthen their linfeup. These are said to be Jared Dillinger and Jeff Chan. Coach Tim Cone is in the process of finalizing his lineup. They have to remove 3 players to make the cut, as only 15 are allowed. The ones said to be cut are Art Dela Cruz, Raymond Aguilar and Kent Salado. But there are also reports that Ginebra wants to trade Chan and Dillinger. The Kings are looking for additional shooters and one way to get them is by trading Chan and Dillinger. Dillinger really played well for Ginebra in the bubble, but management wants young blood. That is why they want to trade him reportedly. The same thing with Chan who has been slowed down by injuries.  The only question now is where will these two go? Will they be traded as a package or separately? It all depends on how negotiations will go. Individually the two may not have a lot of trade value, but together they are still good and can help teams looking for expereinced pl...

  Reports are widespread that Aljon Mariano and Scottie Thompson are no longer speaking to each other. And that Mariano wants a trade. The reason? Mariano's girlfriend, Kayesha Chua, is the best friend of Pau Fajardo, Scottie's ex. Chua made a long Instagram post expressing support for Pau. She also made it clear she was not happy with what Thompson did. Scottie did not like the post, and Mariano obviously sided with Chua. There are also reports that Scottie had ignored Mariano when he tried to help Scottie and Pau when there relationship was on the rocks. Because of this, they no longer speak to other and has affected the team. And now many are saying Mariano wants out. Tim Cone said he does not want to get involved but now this could affect the team.  So let us see what Ginebra does to resolve this matter. This is personal, but if it hurts the team, management may have to step in.  Mariano is a solid player for Ginebra and Cone obviously does not want to trade him. But ...

The Greg Slaughter trade to SMB is going to be bigger than anyone thought. Initially it was Gotladera, Sena and a guard to be traded for the Northport big man. Now SMB wants to get Robert Bolick as well. In exchange SMB is willing to trade Chris Ross and Alex Cabagnot along with Gotladera and Sena. If this trade happens, it will be the end of the SMB death five that has won the team numerous championships. It also marks the beginning of the rebuilding of SMB. There are reports that SMB wants to get the two as soon as possible. But it also depends on how Fajardo and the rest of the Beermen perform this conference. If SMB is unable to capture the crown and Fajardo does not play like before, expect Bolick and Slaughter to don the SMB jerseys soon. While the SMB five has really performed well, age is catching up to them. And management feels that the team needs to rebuild or retool if it wants to be competitive with Ginebra and the other powerhouse teams.

Social media is abuzz with reports that Jinky Serrano is expecting a baby. Some speculate this is the reason why Scottie Thompson had to leave Pau Fajardo and marry her. Ever since their shock marriage a few weeks ago, fans have been wondering what happened. Pau and Scottie were inseparable for eight years, and in fact Scottie proposed to her last New Year. So it came as a shock to everyone when Scottie confirmed in his FB page (a post he has since deleted) that they had indeed split up.  Then a few days later came the news that they were married. Fans asked, what happened?  If the rumors are  true that Jinky is pregnant, then we can understand why Scottie had to marry her. Whatever the case may be, Pau said she is ready to move on, and that she wishes Scottie and Jinky the best. 

Don't look now, but Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle have reportedly received offers from Japanese basketball teams.  This comes on the heels of the Kiefer Ravena issue which is still being discussed. The Japanese basketball league wants to elevate the Ravena case to FIBA, proof they are serious about getting Kiefer. Japanese teams know that Romeo and Pringle are great players. There are a lot of Pinoys in Japan and if they can get these two, it will help their team marketing wise.  The word is that Japan is offering these two players a lot of money, more than what they are getting in the PBA. Will they accept the offer?  It depends on what happens in the Ravena case. If the PBA stands its ground and will not allow Ravena to play in Japan, then the two might not accept. But if Kiefer is allowed, expect more offers from Japan and some PBA superstars to accept them. If this happens, it will forever change the PBA, and will force them to compete on an international scale. ...

Magnolia fans know their team needs a big man. And even though Ginebra said they don't want to trade Prince Caperal, Magnolia is still interested. And they are willing to offer Jackson Corpuz. Now these are sister teams so technically they cannot trade players. But that has never been a problem for SMC and MVP teams since they often use TerraFirma, NorthPort or Blackwater to facilitate the trades. If this trade does push thru, Caperal will be a big help to Magnolia. He has an outside shot, exactly what coach Victolero likes in big men. he can also patrol the paint if necessary. With Pingris retired and Dionisio undersized, a Caperal and Sangalang tandem will be good for the Hotshots. Corpuz will also be an asset to Ginebra. He is a rugged defender and plays much bigger than his height. Cone can put him in the 4 or 3 position and can guard the top scorers of the opposing team or even imports. However, Cone has said he does not want to trade Caperal. He likes having a 3 big man rotat...

There are reports going around that Roger Pogoy might not last with TNT. His destinatiion could be Barangay Ginebra. Trades between SMC and MVP teams are rare but they do happen. Terrence Romeo was traded by TNT to SMB, and SMB sent RR Garcia to TNT for Matt Ganuelas Rosser. So it could happen. But why would TNT trade Pogoy, one of their top scorers? One reason is the arrival of Mikey Williams. Maybe TNT management believes that Williams and Castro will be enough scoring, plus add Parks if he returns. Adding Pogoy to Ginebra will give coach Cone the scoring punch the team needs. he is also good enough to play the 3 position. Pogoy will be a valuable addition to any team. But who will Ginebra give in return? Scottie Thompson perhaps? Management says they will not comment on the issues surrounding Scottie since it is personal, but will they trade him? And will TNT accept him for Pogoy?