PBA commissioner Atty. Chito Salud. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The trade that would send Allein Maliksi and Rico Maierhofer to Ginebra has been approved Wednesday by PBA commissioner Atty. Chito Salud with a few tweaks.
The commissioner added, and revised, the future draft picks previously proposed in the three-team trade involving Barako Bull, Ginebra and B-Meg.
“All teams get equal value for the players and/or picks they gave up. This equalizes the three teams’ strength in terms of their needs now and in the future,” said Salud.
Ginebra’s veteran center Yancy de Ocampo, now including a 2012 second round pick, would be shipped to Barako in exchange for the prized rookie Maliksi.
De Ocampo, plus the draft pick, would be traded to B-Meg for its athletic big man Rico Maierhoffer, who would then be sent to Ginebra for Jimbo Aquino and a 2013 first round pick.
In the previous deal, Aquino would be a acquired by Barako along with 2014 and 2015 second round picks.
Needing a overhaul, the versatile Maierhoffer and the up-and-coming Maliksi would definitely bolster the Gin Kings’ aging line-up.
The Energy, meanwhile, would get a chance to harness untapped potential in the former NCAA standout Jimbo Aquino, who did not get quality minutes in Ginebra’s bench.
The Llamados would get a veteran big man with a touch from the outside in De Ocampo to perhaps complement head coach Tim Cone’s triangle offense.