THE final piece in the Meralco Bolts' revamp is set to fall into place when Kerby Raymundo arrives from Barangay Ginebra in a trade for fellow big man JR Reyes.
The deal has already been signed by both ballclubs and the papers were on the way to the PBA Commissioner's Office at posting time, setting the stage for Raymundo's reunion with Bolts coach Ryan Gregorio.
It will be remembered that Gregorio and Raymundo led the Purefoods franchise, now San Mig Coffee, to three league championships in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 seasons.
Raymundo should be the final piece in a buildup that saw the MVP franchise acquire Gary David, Mike Cortez, Nelbert Omolon and Rabeh Al-Hussaini in a raft of trade deals over the past one-and-a-half months.
After the Al-Hussaini deal, Spin.ph has already reported that Meralco was awaiting one more major piece and that it was Reyes who was on the trading block.
[For full story, see Meralco not done wheeling and dealing as JR Reyes on trading block]
Ginebra, on the other hand, is set to acquire a quality big man in Reyes who will most likely share minutes at the center spot while the Kings await consensus top rookie pick Greg Slaughter to mature.
“Fit ito. JR can just stand there and provide us with the needed rebound and inside presence. He’s not been utilized much. Pero I think we know how to use him,” said a source from the Ginebra camp.
Reyes was a top prospect when he entered the league as a direct hire of Rain or Shine in 2006, averaging 12.40 points, 7.35 rebounds, 1.4 assists in his first three seasons.
But he has seen his minutes and production drop drastically over the past few seasons.