TNT KaTropa has started rebuilding for the future.
In an effort to boost its stock ahead of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft, the KaTropa sent aging big man Ranidel de Ocampo to the Phoenix Fuel Masters in a multi-player trade that also involved the Meralco Bolts.
Trade papers submitted to the PBA Commissioner’s Office indicated that in exchange, Phoenix dealt center Norberto Torres and its 2017 first round pick it acquired from San Miguel in a previous trade.
Meralco, aspiring to go deep into the playoffs in the ongoing PBA Governors’ Cup, joined the prey by acquiring De Ocampo from Phoenix.
The Fuel Masters, who are also in the process of improving their roster, netted seldom-used forward Justin Chua and the Bolts’ 2017 first round pick in return.
Phoenix completed the trade by subsequently dealing Chua to TNT in exchange for the KaTropas second round pick in the 2019 Rookie Draft.