Dave Marcelo isn’t new to going through the process of being shipped to another team, having experienced this before when he was dealt by the Barako Bull to the Barangay Ginebra in a complex four-team trade back in 2015.
But the 28-year-old admitted that leaving a team became emotional for him this time around, as he, along with Chris Ellis, had been traded by the Barangay to the Blackwater Elite for Art Dela Cruz and Raymond Aguilar last Thursday.
“Medyo teary-eyed,” shared a street clothes-clad Marcelo regarding his departure from the Barangay, where he had played for almost two years, moments after the Elite’s 118-97 romping of Kia at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
“Nakakalungkot kasi ang tagal ko kasama yung team tapos sobrang close.”
The 12th overall pick in the 2012 draft also shed some light on the deal, saying that he’d already had an idea that it would materialize just this past Wednesday, when Ginebra had played Phoenix.
“May naririning na ‘kong rumors na ite-trade ako,” he said. “Tapos after ng game namin, dun ata nag-usap… Sakto may laro ata sila (Blackwater). Si Jervy [Cruz] nagbibiro pa na, ‘Uy! Teammate mo oh!’ Nagbibiruan pa kaming dalawa.”
And then, the trade was approved the next day.
As much as the trade had affected him at first, the former San Beda stalwart shared that it was much tougher for Ellis, who was the Gin Kings’ sixth pick in the 2012 Draft.
“Tingin ko siya yung pinaka-affected kasi kumbaga from the start Ginebra na siya eh,” he said.
Marcelo and Ellis are expected to debut for the Elite next Friday, September 8, coincidentally against their former team. He chuckled upon being reminded of their next game, that it might be awkward facing the Barangay.
“Yun nga eh, ang awkward sobra. Baka mamaya pagtapos ng timeout, mapunta ako sa baseline ng Ginebra,” Marcelo quipped. “Sana maka-adjust agad.
“Nakaka-miss maglaro alongside with them, pero ganun talaga.”
Still, the road does not end for Marcelo just because of the trade. The former national team member has already accepted what has transpired, and he is now keen on living the next chapter of his young career.
“Tanggap naman. Yung mga player naman ng Blackwater, halos lahat kakilala ko rin — sina Denok (Miranda) nung napunta ako sa Barako; si Kyle Pascual, Bambam Gamalinda sa San Beda. So at least familiar na rin,” he said.
“Sabi nga nila (Ginebra), para sa skin din ‘to. Makakatulong ‘to in time, para mag-grow ka.”
