THE trade between the Converge FiberXers and PBA newcomers Titan Ultra Giant Risers involving the playing rights of Dave Ildefonso has been shot down.
Sources from inside the league bared that the proposal submitted to the PBA by Titan and Converge two weeks ago - which would send Ildefonso to the FiberXers in exchange for rookie Kobe Monje and a 2027 first-round pick - must undergo a revision to gain the approval of the league's five-man trade committee.
“Nakukalangan pa. Nagpapadagdag sa Converge,” said a source.
READ Titan trading Dave Ildefonso rights to Converge for Monje, first-round pick
The Converge camp believes the trade was fair considering there is no assurance that the ballclub can sign Ildefonso - exactly what happened when the FiberXers traded Jordan Heading to TNT for Mikey Williams.
The mercurial Williams has yet to sign with Converge until now.
Titan Ultra, on the other hand, prefers to gain something tangible from the signing rights of Ildefonso, who was picked at No. 5 overall by NorthPort last season but failed to come to terms with the Batang Pier camp.
According to sources, Titan executives believe Converge has the best at bringing Ildefonso to the PBA even if the latter has an existing two-year contract with the Abra Solid North Weavers in the MPBL, where he is the leading MVP candidate.
The Abra Solid North Weavers are owned by Rep JB Bernos, who is friends with Converge head coach Delta Pineda.
Now the two teams need to try again.
“Need po namin ngayon is turn all of our assets into warm bodies. Sayang naman. But we’ll try to return to the negotiating table with Converge,” said a source from Titan, which marked its PBA debut with an impressive 100-96 debut win over the Meralco Bolts on Wednesday night.
Asked if they are now open to welcome other suitors for Ildefonso, the Giant Risers official said: “The trade was denied so open po lahat ulit options namin."
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