Justin Chua finds himself back at TNT after six years. (Photo courtesy of PBA Images)
MANILA – The PBA trade committee approved a three-team trade involving TNT, NLEX and Phoenix on Wednesday.
The trade saw Justin Chua going back with the Tropang Giga after nearly six years.
Chua and Paul Varilla were sent to TNT, while NLEX got Jake Pascual and Sean Anthony from Phoenix in exchange.
The Fuel Masters, on the other hand, acquired JJay Alejandro and Raul Soyud from the Tropang Giga as well as one of the Road Warriors' second-round picks for the upcoming draft, the one that would end up as the earliest to be selected.
TNT gave up its own future second-rounder, the one they have for the Season 52 Draft, to Phoenix to sweeten the pot.
Chua briefly played for the Tropang Giga in the 2017-18 season before his career blossomed when he was traded to the Fuel Masters.
He was later named the team captain for Road Warriors when he was traded there, but when Frankie Lim took over the head coaching chores, his minutes dwindled significantly.
Lim, meanwhile, will find himself reuniting with Pascual, one of his former key players at San Beda, at the NLEX camp.
Interestingly enough, all three teams will begin their campaign in the PBA Governors' Cup on the same night.
The Road Warriors will parade Pascual and Anthony against the Blackwater Bossing in the first game, while the Tropang Giga and the Fuel Masters will collide in the second game next Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. (PNA)
