ANTIPOLO – Its PBA Governors Cup title-retention bid standing on shaky ground, TNT is making a major move before things get out of hand.
The Tropang 5G are set to acquire Fil-Am forward Joshua Munzon in a trade with Titan Ultra for TNT’s first-round pick in Season 53 along with rookie big man Joe Celzo.
READ Titan Ultra balks at Munzon-Nambatac straight trade, wants more
The long-anticipated trade is only awaiting approval of the PBA Commissioner’s Office.
That explains why Munzon no longer played for the Giant Risers on Wednesday night in a 143-113 blowout loss to San Miguel at the Ynares Center.
TNT is coming off a 118-11 overtime heartbreaker against an NLEX-side that played most of the second half without injured import Dequan Jones.
Shortly after absorbing its fourth loss in eight outings, Chot Reyes and his coaching staff along with team manager Jojo Lastimosa stayed inside the team dugout for almost an hour.
Munzon has been rumored to be headed to TNT since last May, but sources said Titan Ultra management passed when the Tropang 5G offered Rey Nambatac in a one-on-one trade.
SOURCES SAY TNT eyes Munzon-Nambatac trade, but Titan wants Heading
In the latest iteration of the trade, Titan Ultra management asked that big man Henry Galinato be added to the TNT package but which the Tropang 5G thumbed down.
In the eight games he played for the Giant Risers this conference, Munzon averaged 15.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.
He had a breakout season with Northport (whose franchise was later acquired by Titan) last year in which he was named Most Improved Player and part of the All-Defensive Team.
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