TITAN Ultra on Wednesday is set to make its first trade since being accepted as a PBA member team, acquiring big man Ato Ular from Phoenix in exchange for James Kwekuteye.
In a move to bolster its frontcourt in time for its maiden PBA season, the Titan Ultra Giant Risers got the underrated but efficient Ular for his former teammate Kwekuteye - one of the players the new team inherited from the NorthPort franchise.
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Kwekuteye was only recently acquired by NorthPort in an April trade with Blackwater in exchange for Abu Tratter. Ular is no different, having been traded twice after an impressive rookie season with Blackwater.
The trade, initiated by Phoenix, according to sources, got the approval of the PBA trade committee on Wednesday.
The Titan team owned by businessman and sportsman Bryann Calantoc is determined to bolster the lineup it acquired from NorthPort to form a team that can consistently compete in the playoffs.
Ular should help.
Taken at No. 13 overall by Blackwater, the former Letran big man made quite an impression at Blackwater before he was traded along with a first-round pick and Yousef Taha to NLEX for Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser in February 2024.
Just months later, Ular and a future second-round pick were traded to Phoenix to be able to get Javee Mocon from NLEX.
At Titan, the 6-foot-4 Ular is expected to shore up an undersized frontline that includes Sidney Onwubere, Damie Cuntapay, rookie Mario Barasi, and Jeo Ambohot, who the Giant Risers acquired from Converge in the Evan Nelle deal.
On the other hand, Kwekuteye was taken 20th overall by Blackwater in the Season 48 draft but never got to crack the regular rotation with the Bossing or at NorthPort after the Tratter trade.
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