THE trade between Converge and Blackwater involving Mike DiGregorio and Barkley Ebona has been approved by the PBA Commissioner's Office but with a major twist.
The Bossing will now re-acquire DiGregorio from the FiberXers along with guard RK Ilagan and athletic rookie Tyrus Hill.
See Paul Zamar returning to Blackwater after four years with San Miguel
The FiberXers meanwhile, got Ebona and the Bossing's first round pick for the 48th season rookie draft, which the franchise acquired in the three-team trade involving Troy Rosario.
The trade was approved on the league's first day of office on Jan. 3.
The deal reunited Ebona with his former Alaska teammates acquired following the sale of the franchise to Converge, and with one-time mentor Danny Ildefonso, who was credited for developing the former Far Eastern University stalwart as among the upcoming big men in the league back then.
DiGregorio on the other hand, returns to the same team where he played his best seasons in the league from 2017 to 2019 before being traded to TNT.
The inclusion of Ilagan in the deal came as a surprise as the spitfire guard had been a valuable player for Converge from the time of former coach Jeff Cariaso to current one Aldin Ayo.
Ilagan averaged 10.0 points and 3.0 assists in the last Commissioner's Cup when Ayo began to call the shots for the FiberXers.
After a fine start to his rookie season, Hill was hardly utilized under Ayo and played just four games with the team.