Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Despite earlier pronouncements that rookies picked in the special Gilas draft are untouchable for two years, a trade clause made by the PBA Board of Governors made the swap between Von Pessumal and Arnold Van Opstal possible.
The Commissioner’s Office approved the trade on Monday that sent Pessumal to San Miguel Beer and Van Opstal to GlobalPort.
Sources close to the situation further corroborated the deal, leading to San Miguel acquiring the sharp-shooting Pessumal from GlobalPort in exchange of the seldom-used center.
Despite Van Opstal’s exclusion to the pool, a pronouncement made by no less than national coach Chot Reyes when the PH team practices resumed in June, the Fil-German big man is still part of the provision, allowing the transaction to push through.
Pessumal is an active member of the pool and is set to see action in the 2017 Jones Cup and the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Beermen hope to parade Pessumal late this conference after he finishes his obligations with the national team.