FILE–Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser. Photo from NLEX
MANILA, Philippines–TNT pulled off a big move two days before kicking off its campaign in the PBA Philippine Cup by acquiring Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser in a three-team trade that also involved his former teams NLEX and Blackwater.
Ganuelas-Rosser’s transfer to the flagship franchise of the MVP Group was approved Monday by the PBA, with Blackwater serving as a conduit in order for the deal to push through.
Under the agreement, NLEX shipped Ganuelas-Rosser to Blackwater in exchange for Ato Ular, Yousef Taha and a first round pick in the 51st season’s Rookie Draft.
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Blackwater then dealt the sophomore big to TNT for Jaydee Tungcab and veteran center Justin Chua in order to complete the deal.
Ganuelas-Rosser now joins a Tropang Giga roster that is aiming to compete heavily for the All-Filipino title and atone for the disappointment of dealing with struggles in the Commissioner’s Cup that resulted in a quarterfinal exit.
It will be Ganuelas-Rosser’s third team since being selected first overall by Blackwater in the 2022 Draft.
He lasted just the 2022 Philippine Cup with the Bossing before getting traded to the Road Warriors before the same year’s Commissioner’s Cup as part of a three-team trade that sent Calvin Oftana to the Tropang Giga.
Ganuelas-Rosser played 28 games for NLEX and showed signs of being a reliable interior defender with the ability to provide some energy on both ends.
That is something TNT hopes to see, especially with Chot Reyes reassuming his old role as coach following the two-conference tenure of Jojo Lastimosa, who is back in his solo duty as team manager.
TNT opens the Philippine Cup on Wednesday against Rain or Shine at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.