It appears that even LA Revilla couldn’t hide his dismay over Kia’s controversial move that sent the No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 PBA Draft to San Miguel Beer.
Revilla, the Picanto point guard, wrote a cryptic tweet on Friday night, the same day that after Kia management defended the team’s eyebrow-raising trade move and asked for patience from fans for their “unconventional” ways in the league.
Kung magpapalusot man lang sana ginandahan niyo na ang rason. Hindi talaga eh. Bagsak kayo sigurado kung may lie detector. 💩
— LA Revilla (@wilLAREVILLAme) October 27, 2017
Revilla hasn’t taken down the tweet and also hasn’t made another statement.
New team manager Joe Lipa offered a feeble explanation on the trade during talk with the media before PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa announced the approval, which likely triggered Revilla’s post on social media.
“One man cannot spell the difference from a team winning a championship. But for us to have three to four veteran players who we believe isn’t only talented but can also contribute to the development of the younger players, we believe that we can be very competitive,” Lipa told reporters.
The 27-year-old Revilla has been the team’s star since his arrival in 2014 and is entering his fourth season for the Picanto, who wasted a golden opportunity to draft a sure-fire star in Christian Standhardinger.
Lipa also said the Fil-German big man, who is not the typical rookie having played professionally in Germany and with the Philippine national team, “is a great player” and “has a big potential.”
Standhardinger is the consensus top choice in the coming draft on Sunday.
The trade was also approved by PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa Friday night an hour before Game 7 of the 2017 Governors’ Cup, won by Barangay Ginebra, tipped off. Kia acquired Ronald Tubid, JayR Reyes, Rashawn McCarthy, and a 2019 first round pick.
Trading away a high draft pick is nothing new to Kia.
In 2015, the franchise also dealt its rights to No. 2 pick, which turned out to be Troy Rosario, to Talk ’N Text in a three-team trade and got veteran swingmen Aldrech Ramos and KG Canaleta in return.
The Picanto followed it up with another head-scratching move a season later when they shipped Ramos and Canaleta despite having a promising campaign.
Kia recorded a woeful 6-27 slate this season, including a 0-11 card in the Governors’ Cup.