Looks like the Philippine Basketball Association will have to go over with a fine-tooth comb the trade proposal involving top overall pick Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser of Blackwater, Troy Rosario of TNT and Calvin Oftana of NLEX.
An agreement reached by the PBA governors four years ago prohibits moving the No.1 pick to another team until a certain period of time.
An article dated 12 October 2018, was even posted on the PBA website regarding the board's decision to bar the trading of the top overall pick, which gives credence to the validity that trading the No.1 pick is not allowed.
"We've discussed that on the board," league commissioner Willie Marcial was quoted as saying, adding that the rule will be strictly implemented in the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft.
This came on the heels of the Christian Standhardinger trade to San Miguel Beer during the 2017 Rookie Draft.
The 6-foot-8 center was supposed to be selected by Kia, but decided to ship him to San Miguel Beer in exchange for role players Ronald Tubid, Jay-R Reyes, Rashawn McCarthy and the Beermen's 2019 first round pick.
Right after the incident, then league commissioner Chito Narvasa was forced to step down and he was succeeded by Marcial, who then decided to create a five-man committee, which will handle all trade transactions.
Since then, this unwritten rule was followed by the squads as Kia, later became known as Columbian Dyip and and later changed its name to Terrafirma, held on to its top picks over the past two seasons.
Perez was selected top overall pick in the 2018 Rookie Draft, but the Dyip were not able to trade him until last year when he was shipped to the Beermen for Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Russell Escoto, Gelo Alolino, and first round picks of the 46th and 48th seasons.
Roosevelt Adams, who succeeded Perez as the No.1 pick, also stayed with Terrafirma until last season when he was released by the squad as the player decided to pursue plans playing overseas.
Joshua Munzon, also selected No.1 by Terrafirma in 2020, has remained with the squad.
But two days ago, league deputy commissioner Eric Castro sent Daily Tribune a Viber message regarding such rule.
"We don't have that policy as of now," Castro replied.
This questions the validity of the three-team, multi-player trade transaction involving Ganuelas-Rosser, Rosario and Oftana. Also involved in the trade according to reports were Gab Banal of TNT, Paul Desiderio of Blackwater and Raul Soyud of NLEX.
Rain or Shine team owner Raymond Yu raised concerns whether the gentlemen's agreement made by the board of governors four years ago is still in effect.
The trade transaction had yet to be approved by the PBA at this time.
Oftana, who is at the center of the trade, is currently in the province, attending the wake of his grandfather, but still able to play for the Road Warriors in a tune up game against the Changwon LG Sakers a few days ago when news about the trade broke out.
