INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—Red Bull has unloaded one of the league’s toughest enforcers with a heavy heart.

The only remnant from Red Bull’s original core when the franchise joined the Philippine Basketball Association in 2000, Junthy Valenzuela parted ways with the Barako on Monday after the ballclub finally consummated a deal with the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

Known as “The Hitman,” the 6-foot-2 Valenzuela was shipped by the Barako in exchange for a second-round pick next year and Ginebra’s first-round selection in 2010.

The feisty guard from Bogo, Cebu, out of Salazar Institute helped the Barako win three import-spiced PBA crowns—the 2001 and 2002 Commissioner’s Cup and the 2006 Fiesta Conference.

“The trade will benefit Junthy and Red Bull as well,” said coach Yeng Guiao. “We’ll find ways to fill the void left by Junthy.”

Player-agent Danny Espiritu, Valenzuela’s manager, said the eight-year veteran attended his last practice with the Barako Monday morning at the RFM gym before the negotiations finally pushed through.

After bidding his former team adieu, Valenzuela went straight to the Ginebra training facility at Green Meadows subdivision in Libis, Quezon City, where head coach Jong Uichico briefed him on team rules and regulations.

Espiritu said Valenzuela has an existing contract with the Bulls until July 2009, which the Gin Kings assumed.

With the departure of Enrico Villanueva and Lordy Tugade last season, the 27-year-old Valenzuela became the team’s leader.

He was the top local scorer for Red Bull last season with 11.9 points per game and normed 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists every outing.

Meanwhile, a landmark meeting between NBA commissioner David Stern and PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios recently resulted in an agreement to pursue common projects that will cover areas in education/outreach projects, technical (officiating) management and marketing.

The meeting took place in Stern's 15th floor office at the Olympic Tower on 645 Fifth Avenue, New York, and was arranged by NBA basketball operations official Brook Meeks and Martin Conlon.