WHILE it has yet to get the nod of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) trade committee, super rookie Ray Parks, Jr. could well be on the move after his mother team Blackwater Elite agreed to send him to the TNT KaTropa in a five-player deal.
In a setup finalized on Wednesday, Mr. Parks will go to the KaTropa in exchange for forwards Don Trollano and Anthony Semerad plus two future first-round picks.
The PBA, however, would not be able to give its approval of the deal until Nov. 4 when it resumes office after the holiday break for All Saints’ Day.
If given the nod, the latest deal would be the third for Blackwater in less than a month after completing the deal that sent guard Michael DiGregorio to TNT for Brian Heruela and that of Allein Maliksi and Reymar Jose going to the Meralco Bolts for KG Canaleta, Mike Tolemia and their 2020 and 2022 second-round picks.
Mr. Parks, son of legendary PBA import Bobby, began playing only for the Elite in the second conference of the ongoing season as he played out his commitment with Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League.
Since stepping on the PBA hardwood, Mr. Parks has become one of the top players in the league, currently posting solid numbers of 20.1 points, five rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
He played possibly for the last time with the Elite on Wednesday, finishing with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists in their 101-93 loss to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.
Mr. Trollano, meanwhile, has had a steady season for TNT, embodying the prototypical do-it-all player for the KaTropa.
He has been averaging of 11.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists for TNT in the Governors’ Cup.
Mr. Semerad is currently sidelined by a shoulder injury he got in the previous conference.
The PBA has no schedule of games today and will resume action on Nov. 3 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with Northport Batang Pier taking on the Alaska Aces at 4:30 p.m. and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings playing Meralco Bolts at 7 p.m. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
