The GlobalPort Batang Pier and the San Miguel Beermen on Monday completed a trade between two rookies that stirred confusion.
The Batang Pier sent sharpshooter Von Pessumal to the Grand Slam-seeking Beermen in exchange for reserve big man Arnold Van Opstal in a deal that wasn’t supposed to be approved by the PBA.
Pessumal and Van Opstal are two of the 12 rookies who who were picked by teams under a “special draft” which was held behind closed doors before the 2016 PBA Rookie Draft.
Under the agreement between the PBA and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, trades involving the Gilas cadets are barred at least in their first two years in the league.
But on Monday, it was reported that a trade between rookies from the “special draft” was allowed after all.
Per @pbaconnect, trading Gilas Cadet for another Gilas Cadet is something that was agreed upon by the Board of Governors.
— Chuck Araneta (@chuck_araneta) July 10, 2017
Curiously, only Blackwater’s Mac Belo is exempted from the rule.
Belo was the #1 overall pick in the Cadets draft, hence Board agreed no trades allowed. This + trading Cadets agreed upon before Draft https://t.co/jksefgjRTo
— Chuck Araneta (@chuck_araneta) July 10, 2017
The straight-up Pessumal-Van Opstal trade is expected to benefit both GlobalPort and San Miguel.
A 6’2″ shooting guard, Pessumal has averages of 5.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists. He is also shooting 39.1 percent from downtown as he is expected to provide additional bite to San Miguel’s bench.
Meanwhile, Van Opstal, a 6’9″ center, had difficulty securing regular minutes during his time with the Beermen who have a loaded center rotation led by reigning three-time MVP June Mar Fajardo and comprised of veteran reserves Jay-R Reyes, Gabby Espinas and Yancy De Ocampo.
Van Opstal, a former star big man in La Salle, has only appeared in eight games this season, and was usually inserted during garbage time.
