Trades involving TNT, Meralco, Air21 legal -- Barrios

Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Sonny Barrios believes the series of trades made by Talk N Text, its sister team Meralco and Air21 over the past few days were done legally. “Since the season is over, I do believe that the trade made by these teams that sent players to their former squads were done legally, thus the one-season ban should not be implemented," Barrios told GMANews.TV. Barrios was referring to the separate trades made Friday that saw Mac Mac Cardona and Beau Belga going to Meralco, the league’s newest member, Ali Peek moving back to his previous team Talk N Text, and JR Quinahan returning to Air21. Also finding himself a new team was Josh Urbiztondo, who is now with Air21 along with the No.3 overall pick in the draft as part of the Cardona trade. The No.4 pick of the Express was acquired by the Tropang Texters. Barrios added that the season-long ban for players returning to their former teams will not anymore take effect as the 35th season of the league has just ended. “I’m sure teams knew when and when not to trade players. Since the season is already over, the trade that sent players back to their former teams were done legally," added Barrios, the outgoing commissioner, who will pass the baton to Atty. Chito Salud at the end of the month. But while Barrios cited the reason to uphold such trades, newly-crowned champion coach Tim Cone of Alaska blasted such trades involving the three teams. “Well, it begins anew. Sister teams trading with each other involving a third party lackey. Now, it’s the other sister teams," said Cone in his Twitter account. Former Philippine Basketball League commissioner Chino Trinidad also have things to say on the trades that were happening in the PBA. “Let’s thank SMC and the MVP Group for espousing playing out of bounds, which is the only game they know how to play," added Trinidad in his Twitter. - Rey Joble, GMANews.TV