A big decision: Marcial puts trust in trade committee on CJ deal

The CJ Perez trade case in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is all over social media these days, with the former Rookie of the Year from Terrafirma set to transfer to powerhouse San Miguel Beer in a trade initiated reportedly by the Beermen which would make them an even more formidable side.

Commissioner Willie Marcial is aware of the enormity of this trade, but said that he has a trade committee to decide on that and that he, no matter what happens, “will not interfere to whatever the [trade committee] decides on.”

A trade proposal was sent to the PBA offices last week that would send Perez to San Miguel in exchange for Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Gelo Alolino, Russel Escoto and a 2021 first round Draft pick.

“I have never gone against the decision of the trade committee,” Marcial told the Inquirer over the phone on Sunday. “Starting Day 1 [of my commissionership], that committee has decided on all of the trades in the league.”Marcial expects the committee to “make a decision in the next few days because I know they took up [the trade] over the weekend.”

The trade committee is made up of former pro Joey Guanio, Eric Castro, legal counsel Melvin Mendoza, Mauro Bengua Jr. and Ross Tioteco.

The body can either shoot down the trade or recommend additions to balance the swap.

As it stands, the Dyip are giving up a lot of quality in Perez, but team governor Bobby Rosales earlier told the Inquirer they will be getting pieces they badly need. Among others, Rosales said getting Alolino, a playmaker with a collegiate championship in his resume, will plug their point guard hole. But the key to the deal was the first-rounder that San Miguel will send their way.

“Because of the richness of this [rookie] pool, we saw a chance to get more talent and bring in those ‘missing pieces,’” added Rosales, who explained that having no second round selection made Terrafirma agree to the swap because after picking first overall, the team will have to wait for the rest of the field to select in two rounds before the Dyip can tab another rookie.

“That means there are 24 other players who will be turned over to teams. We’d like to get the better part of the talent—which we believe will be in the top 12,” the team executive added.

The committee has handled several blockbuster trades before, like the Stanley Pringle deal that sent the prolific point guard to Barangay Ginebra two years ago with NorthPort getting three former University of Sto. Tomas stars who were reunited with coach Pido Jarencion as Batang Pier mainstays.

Former commissioner Noli Eala has also come to the defense of the Commissioner’s Office, saying that “teams will do everything to win.”

In a tweet, Eala said that “those (teams) that have no intention of winning championships have no business being in the PBA,” and that it is normal for powerhouse squads to try to keep improving even with their current rosters.

San Miguel already has a rock-solid core built around six-time most valuable player (MVP) June Mar Fajardo, former MVP Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot and two-way guard Chris Ross.

But the Beermen bombed out of the bubble early in the Philippine Cup, with coach Leo Austria himself saying that his nucleus has gotten old.

And in Perez, the Beermen will add youth and a lot of talent to their lineup. INQ