WAS the January 2013's five-team, 10-player rigodon in the PBA the biggest in league history?
Here’s a summary of the players the five teams ended up with in a trade that had needed four transactions to complete:
Petron Blaze Ronald Tubid
Barangay Ginebra Mac Baracael
Alaska Aldrech Ramos
San Mig Coffee Alex Mallari, Leo Najorda, Lester Alvarez and Petron Blaze’s 2014 first round pick (which Barako Bull previously owned from Mick Pennisi deal)
Barako Bull JC Intal, Jonas Villanueva, Allein Maliksi, Jojo Duncil
In terms of the number of teams and players involved - which is five and 10, I say this has to be the biggest trade ever in league history. But if you add draft picks to the equation, there have been transactions in the past that are just as big in terms of sheer size - if not bigger.
I remember the trade that sent Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes to Talk ‘N Text on May 12, 2010 which involved three teams and nine players plus one draft pick.
The main transaction of that deal had the Tropang Texters getting Williams and Reyes from Sta. Lucia in exchange for Ali Peek, Nic Belasco, Pong Escobal and Ogie Menor, who was acquired from Barako Coffee in exchange for TnT’s 2010 second-round draft pick.
Part of that deal also had Barako Coffee getting Charles Water from Sta. Lucia in exchange for Yousif Aljamal and then shipping Waters to Talk ‘N Text for Mark Isip.
There was also that August 3, 2009 that saw Purefoods, Barangay Ginebra and Burger King figure in a nine-player trade that also involved four future draft picks.
In that trade, the Giants acquired Rafi Reavis, Paul Artadi, Chris Timberlake and the Whoppers’ 2010 first- and second-round picks; the Whoppers ended up with Orly Daroya and Purefoods’ 2010 first- and second-round picks; while the Kings took in Rico Villanueva, Rich Alvarez, Paolo Bugia, Celino Cruz, and Cholo Villanueva.
On August 4, 2006, the deal that sent Rudy Hatfield and Billy Mamaril to Barangay Ginebra also involved three teams, a total of eight players and five future draft picks.
Also involved in that deal were Air21 and Coca-Cola and players Aris Dimaunahan, Ryan Bernardo, Kalani Ferreria, Manny Ramos, Ervin Sotto, and Reavis.