ALASKA would rather keep mum on talk of a trade that would send Chris Banchero to Magnolia in exchange for the duo of Rodney Brondial and Robbie Herndon.
Alaska coach Jeff Cariaso said he'd rather not comment on the matter. He neither denied nor confirmed a trade deal that was first tweeted by SPIN.ph's Snow Badua.
"Management won't allow me to comment about it," he said in a brief text message to SPIN.ph.
Banchero and Vic Manuel have long been rumored to be on the way out of Alaska as talk of a growing rift with former coach Alex Compton spread.
There is no word on the status of Manuel.
The Aces consequently struggled in the PBA Governors' Cup, fighting for the final playoff berth going to the final stretch of the eliminations in Cariaso's first conference in charge since replacing Compton.
Banchero, 30, was picked by Alaska at fifth overall in the 2014 rookie draft after a stellar stint in the US NCAA and the Asean Basketball League (ABL).
The Fil-Italian took over the starting point guard spot from JVee Casio and emerged as the Aces' acknowledged leader after the trade that sent Calvin Abueva to Phoenix.
A Banchero trade to Magnolia may create a surplus of top guards in the Hotshots' backcourt, where he will join Mark Barroca and Jio Jalalon.
However, Magnolia team manager Rene Pardo has denied to SPIN.ph that the ballclub has any plans of trading Jalalon, who it has signed to a fresh three-year contract.
According to sources, the trade papers will be submitted before the PBA Commissioner's Office as early as Monday, or a day after the Aces play NorthPort at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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