RABEH Al-Hussaini's journeyman career took another twist on Tuesday when the enigmatic big man was moved from Meralco to NLEX in a trade that Blackwater facilitated as a conduit.
The 6-8 Al-Hussaini was traded by Meralco for a 2018 second-round pick from Blackwater, which then sent the seven-year pro to NLEX in exchange for a 2017 second-round pick it sent to the Road Warriors in a previous trade.
As sister teams, NLEX and Meralco are prohibited from trading directly by PBA by-laws.
Tempo was the first to report about the trade.
Al-Hussaini, 28, was made by Guiao the second-pick overall behind former Ateneo teammate Noy Baclao in the 2010 rookie draft back when the multi-titled coach was still coaching the Air21/ Burger King franchise.
The former Blue Eagles star won Rookie of the Year honors in what turned out to be the finest season of a career that has since degenerated amid constant moves as well as a strange self-imposed layoff in 2014.
He resurfaced in 2015 to join his college coach Norman Black at Meralco, but has been no more than a third-string center with the Bolts before the latest trade to the Road Warriors.
Al-Hussaini now gets another chance to revive a stagnant career at NLEX, where he will be the only legitimate center in an undersized roster after the veteran Asi Taulava.
However, the Road Warriors finished last in their debut conference with Guiao in the Philippine Cup and are winless through three games in the midseason Commissioner's Cup.
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