TRUE to his word, Yeng Guiao got a trade rolling on Friday night just two days after the coach hinted about a possible roster shakeup at NLEX.
The Road Warriors traded seldom-used big man Rabah Al-Hussaini to Blackwater in exchange for fellow big man Dave Marcelo.
SPIN.ph learned from multiple sources the move was given a go by both parties shortly after the Elite’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against the TnT Katropa at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Blackwater lost the game, 120-101 - its sixth straight setback - despite going up against a Katropa side which played without an import.
Trade papers have already been sent to the Commissioner’s Office.
Following NLEX’s 116-94 loss to Globalport on Wednesday, Guiao hinted at tinkering the team’s lineup anew as the Road Warriors went down at 1-4 in the mid-season tournament.
Other than being the coach, Guiao also serves as NLEX general manager for basketball operations.
The 6-foot-7 Al-Hussaini, whose playing time has dwindled this season, no longer played for the team in the loss to the Batang Pier.
The acquisition of the former Ateneo star by Blackwater, though, is expected to give the Elite a towering frontline that will have him forming a twin tower at the middle with fellow former Blue Eagle Poy Erram.
Marcelo also didn’t play in his final game for the Elite, but could thrive under the system of Guiao, who is known for favoring a physical big men with reliable shooting from the perimeter.
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