PBA guard, Sol Mercado, is set to play for his third team in a span of as many conferences, as he was traded to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Monday.
The Barako Bull Energy will receive Joseph Yeo in exchange of Mercado. The trade was confirmed by Spin.ph at around 4:00pm
Ginebra trades Joseph Yeo to Barako Bull for Sol Mercado in one-on-one swap By @snowbadua http://t.co/oc4bRIIxQN via @spinph
— SPIN.ph (@spinph) May 4, 2015
Mercado played for the San Miguel Beermen during the 2014-2015 Philippine Cup before he was shifted to Barako Bull.
He averaged 8.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 3.6 APG for the two squads this season.
Yeo, meanwhile, is putting up 8.1 PPG in 24 minutes per game for the Kings.
Quick takeaways
Mercado will give Ginebra’s backcourt a quality two-way player who does an array of things, including the ability to drive strong given his frame and defend bigger players like what he did against Al Thornton during the Commissioner’s Cup.
The compelling storyline is how he will be able to blend with LA Tenorio. Will he play the two more often with Tenorio on the floor at the same time? Will he play point along with Mark Caguioa? There are several combinations, but until people see him suit up for his new club, it remains to be seen what impact he will make.
Yeo gives the Energy another scorer who can facilitate. Yeo is averaging 3.7 assists over the past two seasons, which is relatively higher than any of his previous season in the league.
Chico Lanete carried the Energy in backcourt scoring last conference, and with Yeo in the fold, Lanete will be able to concetrate on playmaking, while still being a threat on the floor.
Having Yeo on the floor together with Lanete will change the Barako offense in even the smallest way possible.
Barako wins this trade slightly because of the added weapon on offense.
