The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) has come up with innovations at the halfway stage of the ongoing Datu Cup that includes a trade deadline and dispersal draft for free agents.
With the objective of keeping the balance among the 26 competing squads, the Commissioner’s Office decided to beef up the four bottom teams — two teams from the north and the south — by giving them the first crack of selecting players from those who were left unprotected by their respective teams.
From the 20-man roster, teams were required to unload players no. 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 from their respective teams with the condition that they will still keep at least three home grown players and a maximum of five ex-pros.
Surprisingly released by their teams to free agency were ex-PBA players Jerwin Gaco of Imus, JR Cawaling of Caloocan, Jai Reyes of Laguna and Samboy de Leon and Jam Cortes of San Juan.
Even Jeff Tajonera of Imus and JV Orera and Arden Guiyab of Zamboanga were also released to the free agency.
Four teams were given the opportunity of selecting first from among the list of more than 100 free agent players — Pasig, Cebu, Caloocan, and Rizal.
Starting today until the 24th of this month, these teams will be making their move and should notify the Commissioner’s Office of their selected players (one each) before the other teams could get their turn picking players.
Even before the trade deadline, teams had already entered an agreement of trading players; players who were even part of the Protect 15.
The busiest team was Pampanga, which made transactions on separate deals.
Owned by Congressman Dong Gonzales, the Lanterns acquired the rights on ex-pro Levi Hernandez from Navotas and shipped burly frontliner Marlon Gomez to the Clutch.
Pampanga also got Pari Llagas from Muntinlupa following a trade with forward Daniel de Guzman.
The Lanterns were not done yet as they even tinkered their coaching staff by tapping Aldrin Morante as head coach and Bong dela Cruz as his assistant.
These mentors were an integral part of Muntinlupa’s perfect 7-0 start, but were shockingly replaced by the Angelis Resort-backed management.
There’s more than meets the eye these coming days in the MPBL Datu Cup and Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes expect things to get more exciting.
Rey Joble has been a sportswriter for more than a decade. He is a member of the PBA Press Corps and Philippine Sportswriters Association.
reyjoble09@gmail.com
