Mike Tolomia was already feeling that he might be on the trading block next following Blackwater’s activities in recent weeks.
The rebuilding Bossing have pulled off moves that saw changes in their guard composition, from trading Simon Enciso to Terrafirma for Rashawn McCarthy to picking up lefty gunner Val Chauca from free agency.
“Nararamdaman ko na rin.
“‘Yung moves previously na ginagawa ng team is parang laging sa pwesto ko e, laging may tatamaan na ka-pwesto ko. So, parang nafi-feel ko na baka sa susunod, ako na,” he told Tiebreaker Times.
And that turned out to be true. On Tuesday, the 28-year-old combo guard, along with a 2022 second-round pick, was shipped to Alaska in exchange for veteran floor general Jvee Casio and sophomore big Barkley Ebona.
Tolomia admitted that he was actually all geared up to practice with Blackwater, until one of the team’s bosses notified him of the trade.
So instead of working out, the 2016 Gilas draftee took the time to bid goodbye to his teammates and coaches before driving back home.
Photo by PBA Images
“Naka-medyas na nga ako, naka-ready na ako. Bababa na lang ako, magpa-practice,” he shared.
“Sinabi na lang ni manager na ‘wag na, kung gusto ko raw, mag-paalam na lang ako sa teammates and coaches.”
Tolomia is leaving with a heavy heart. Despite the misfortunes that came their way in the nearly two years he was with the ball club, the former FEU star said that it’s always tough to leave people he’d shared memories with.
“Sa’kin kasi mabigat ‘yung samahan na na-build namin. Kasi siyempre in the last two years, meron na kaming relationship na na-build with each other — with the players, the coaches, and sa utilities na rin,” he said.
But then, Tolomia understands that it is all part of pro basketball — this is actually the third time that he got traded. And now, he looks forward to joining one of the league’s storied franchises in the Aces.
“Una, masaya ako kasi alam ko ‘yung tradition nila. Alam ko paano takbo nila roon, na parang they treat each other like family,” said the Zamboanga-native.
“Excited ako na makasama at makatulong sa Alaska.”
