CHRIS Koon is one player who was not part of the Northport franchise's sale to Titan Ultra.
Sources told SPIN.ph that Koon was picked fourth overall during the last PBA draft not by Titan but by the old Batang Pier management, on the understanding that the former Ateneo standout will be traded to Magnolia - with or without the sale.
“Sa Magnolia talaga 'yan. Napansin mo hindi pa Titan [officials] ang present nung draft?” said the source who had knowledge of the inside deadlings.
READ Koon traded to Magnolia for Dionisio just 5 games into PBA career
That's the reason why Koon, a 6-foot-5 guard holding a lot of promise, was never really part of Titan's plans from the start, averaging 7.6 points and 4 rebounds at 25 minutes per in the five games he played with the team prior to the trade.
“Alam din nila na hindi kanila yung Koon kaya hindi masyado ginamit,” said the source.
An insider from Titan, meanwhile, told SPIN.ph that although management was resigned to the fact that it would eventually lose Koon, team officials were adamant that they should get just compensation in any deal.
“So, yun ang rason kaya si Aris Dionisio ang naging kapalit. Matigas yung Titan sa tamang kapalit,” said the insider.
The Titan coaching staff believes that Dionisio is one player who only needed playing minutes to excel in the league.
“Kita nyo naman sigur sa mga comments ng fans. Our trade for Koon was not bad, Aris was a good trade. We will give him the playing time,” said the source
It will be recalled that the Titan-Northport sale was only cleared by the PBA board of governors on October 1 - weeks after the September 7 rookie draft and just four days before the opening of the PBA 50th season Philippine Cup.
Asked if aside from Koon, Titan would also lose other key players from those it inherited from NorthPort, the source was non-committal.
“Hindi pa natin alam kasi alam nyo naman mga tunay na may-ari nun (Northport), lahat naman ng fans alam yun,” he said.
Key players from NorthPort who are still playing for Titan, are Calvin Abueva and Joshua Munzon. The team also holds the signing rights of Greg Slaughter and Arvin Tolentino after trading the rights to Dave Ildefonso to Converge for Kobe Monje plus a Season 52 first-round pick and Season 51 second-round pick of the FiberXers.
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