Top rookies for PBA veteran players: Salud turns down trade offer

The blockbuster trade offer for Air21’s top three picks — Noy Baclao, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Rey Guevarra— in exchange for San Miguel Beer veteran players Danny Seigle, Mick Pennisi and Joseph Yeo has been turned down by Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Atty. Chito Salud. After a few days of speculations, Salud made the swift and decisive move to turn down the offer of the Beermen to acquire the services of the top three newcomers in exchange for their veterans on Monday. “The trade involving Air21 rookie picks Baclao, Al-Hussiani and Guevarra for San Miguel’s Seigle, Pennisi and Yeo has been turned down because I believe the trade is lopsided," Salud told GMA News. But the Beermen informed Salud that they will come up with a better offer to get the services of the three rookies.

“Whatever they will offer, that will also be subject for study," added Salud. Initially, the Beermen offered the Express their 2011 first-round pick, which they don’t already have. The Beermen had already given their 2011 first-round pick to the Express as part of the Arwind Santos trade. GMA News published the news on the blockbuster trade offer as early as Feb. 25. It garnered a lot of negative reactions from the fans, basketball experts, and active posters from social networking sites. The trade talks also created a buzz in Airt21’s camp, drawing apprehension from the players and other team members who were in the dark on such a transaction. Al-Hussaini, the Express’ 6-foot-7 center, was one of those who expressed his misgivings. “Getting traded doesn't mean that you will be the same as you were before. There will be lots of changes and who knows, baka dun ka pa malaos," said Al-Hussaini in his Twitter account. - KY, GMA News