Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Alaska beefed up its forward positions while shipping arguably its best guard in Chris Banchero to Magnolia.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial on Sunday approved the trade that sent Banchero to the Hotshots in exchange for Rodney Brondial and Robbie Herndon.
“This was a coaching staff’s decision, so I really feel that this trade is going to help,” said Alaska head coach Jeffrey Cariaso after Alaska’s 106-99 win over NorthPort in the Governors’ Cup Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Chris is a really good player, he’s done a lot for us at Alaska but in all honesty he’s the one the other teams wanted so for me to bring the parts we need we also need to give something up.”
Banchero was a vital piece to Alaska’s core for several seasons. He averaged 10.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists for the Aces this conference.
Trading Banchero way, however, wasn’t an easy decision for Cariaso.
“It’s always hard to let go regardless of their stats, letting go of someone or moving someone is always difficult,” said Cariaso. “It’s part of the job, it’s part of the profession so it happens.”
Cariaso added that he made sure to talk to Banchero and also to Carl Bryan Cruz, who was traded to Blackwater earlier in the conference, before any whiff of information made it to the media.
“The ones I made, I made sure that I called them right away, so they heard it from me first,” said Cariaso. “That’s really important for me.”