Alex Mallari. TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.net
After a dramatic stint with Mahindra, Alex Mallari is set to get a new lease on life with NLEX as he served as the cornerstone of a four-player swap between the two squads.
The veteran swingman has been acquired by the Road Warriors, together with seldom-used forward Kenneth Ighalo and a 2020 second round pick in the trade.
The Floodbuster, in exchange, got hardworking bruisers Eric Camson and Glenn Khobuntin in the transaction.
The Office of the Commissioner approved the trade on Friday.
Mallari has been averaging 12.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in the seven games he suited up for Mahindra this 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
However, he has earned the ire of coach Chris Gavina for his supposed unsportsmanlike demeanor throughout the Floodbuster’s 1-7 campaign this conference, even calling the fifth-year guard a “crybaby”.
READ: Gavina calls out Mallari anew: ‘Sometimes he’s a detriment’
With NLEX, Mallari gets a clean slate with coach Yeng Guiao as the Road Warriors were finally able to seal a deal in hopes of rebooting the team, especially after their forgettable campaigns this season.
Meanwhile, Camson and Khobuntin are expected to give a huge boost to Mahindra’s lean frontcourt, joining import Keith Wright, Prince Caperal, Jackson Corpuz, and Jason Ballesteros in the paint. IDL