CHICAGO - Now that Jordan Heading is free, the PBA league office finally broke its silence on the Fil-Aussie's stay in Terrafirma's doghouse with a simple announcement about his trade to Converge in the league's website.
But here's an even stranger twist.
After Heading was picked No. 1 overall by the Dyip in the 2020 Gilas special draft, "no one at Terrafirma ever approached Jordan about playing for them," an unimpeachable source told SPIN.ph.
Damn. And damning.
READ: How Converge was able to land Jordan Heading
If true, this means the Dyip had no intention of playing the 6-foot-2 guard whose shooting touch is hotter than a Quad Committee microphone.
So why then did they draft him? Why keep such talent from playing in the PBA instead of watching him saunter in Taichung, Australia and Japan?
MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
Had they kept both Heading and Stephen Holt, Terrafirma would have, arguably, the best backcourt in the PBA. It would have been the most exhilarating H and H partnership since hot and heavy.
I called and sent text messages to both Terrafirma governor Bobby Rosales and team manager Ronald Tubid, but neither gentleman responded to the interview request.
Moral of the story?
In the PBA, the Dyip are a joyless ride.
Heading headed to practice with Converge is quite a different experience. He enjoyed being around FiberXers players and coaches, and for the first time in quite a while, he relished being in a gym not just to work out but actually practice with new teammates.
GEARING FOR BATTLE.
Sneakers squeaking, sweat glistening, and coaches exuberantly barking drills reminded Heading of the eternal happiness of playing basketball.
"(Cheick) Diallo is good, man. Good team player," Jordan told me.
Diallo is Converge's import for the upcoming Commissioner's Cup. The 6-foot-8, 219-pound center-forward was a five-star recruit in high school before playing one year with the blue-chip program at Kansas.
Taken 33rd overall by the Clippers in the 2015 draft, the former New Orleans Pelican and Detroit Piston played 183 games in the NBA where he earned an estimated $5.1 million, according to BasketballReference.com.
Not known for his offense, at least in the NBA where he averaged just 5.2 points per, Diallo is a defensive menace, what with a 7-foot-4 1/2 wingspan and an 8-foot-11 1/2 standing reach.
After a spirited semifinals appearance in the Governors' Cup, Converge is poised to make another deep postseason run next conference.
Just in time for Jordan Heading to be front and center of all the action.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
