JIMMY Alapag will finally get to coach the same guy who trained under him prior to applying in the PBA Draft.
On Monday, the PBA Commissioner’s Office approved the one-on-one trade between NLEX and Phoenix involving sophomore Evan Nelle and veteran Sidney Onwubere.
READ Coach Jimmy makes first move at NLEX with trade for Nelle
It was the first NLEX deal consumated under the coaching leadership of Alapag, who was named the new mentor of the Road Warriors last week.
Incidentally, Alapag personally trained Nelle in California before the Season 49 draft while the PBA great was still the player development coach of the Sacramento Kings.
Both Onwubere and Nelle are expected to show up for their respective new teams by Tuesday.
The 28-year-old Nelle will be suiting up for his third PBA team after initially playing for Northport as its second round pick (no. 14) in the 2024 draft.
He spent his rookie season with the Batang Pier, before being acquired by Phoenix in a three-team, three-player trade involving Larry Muyang, and Jeo Ambohot.
Prior to turning pro, Nelle was a multi-titled player in college, having carried the rare distinction of winning championships in both NCAA (San Beda) and UAAP (La Salle).
Onwubere, 32, meanwhile, will be joining his sixth PBA team in his ninth season in the league.
A first round pick of TNT in the 2017 draft at no. 8, he previously played for the Tropang 5G, Rain or Shine, Northport, Barangay Ginebra, and NLEX.
During his three-year stint with the Kings where he won his two championship rings.
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