Don’t be surprised if the CJ Perez trade from Terrafirma to San Miguel gets approved.
Why, you ask? It has the same formula as the Kia-San Miguel trade that happened back in 2017.
Four years ago, Kia landed the top overall pick in the 2017 draft. It was unanimous in mock drafts that Christian Standhardinger – then playing for ABL team Hong Kong Eastern – would be the top overall pick.
The initial proposal included big man Jay-R Reyes, point guard Rashawn McCarthy, Keith Agovida, and San Miguel’s first round pick in the 2019 draft going to Kia for the top pick. But then-commissioner Chito Narvasa rejected it, exchanging Agovida for swingman Ronald Tubid.
Back then, McCarthy was coming off his rookie campaign with the Beermen, playing in just 13 games. Reyes, who stands at 6-foot-7 and was entering his 11th year in the league, played in 20 games prior to the trade. Tubid, on the other hand, was entering his 14th year.
The 2019 pick ended up being Christian Balagasay.
The top overall pick ended up being, well, Standhardinger.
Fast forward to 2021, Terrafirma is in the same situation. This time, the all-around guard was drafted two years prior.
Perez was the first overall pick in the 2018 PBA Draft. With this, Perez is entering the final season of his three-year rookie max deal.
Being sent to the Dyip are big man Russel Escoto, point guard Gelo Alolino, swingman Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, and San Miguel’s first round pick in the 2021 Draft.
Unlike the Stanhardinger trade, the trio of Escoto, Alolino, and Ganuelas-Rosser are younger, with an average age of just 28 years old. Moreover, the pick the Dyip are getting is four spots higher.
But unlike the trade of 2017, the league now has a trade committee consisting of Eric Castro, Roscelle Teotico, Junior Bengua, and Atty. Melvin Mendoza with Joey Guanio serving as a tiebreaker.
And yes, the formation of the trade committee was a result of the Standhardinger trade.
