by Jonas Terrado
NLEX acquired the services of Jericho Cruz from TNT in a three-way trade which also involved NorthPort on Monday, ending a saga that began when the KaTropa mysteriously placed the five-year guard on the inactive list.
Under the terms of the deal, the Road Warriors received Cruz and and NorthPort’s 2020 second round pick while the KaTropa got Marion Magat and NorthPort’s 2021 and 2022 second round picks.
Jericho Cruz of TnT is guarded by JR Quinahan of NLEX (PBA Images)
NorthPort, which served as a conduit with sister teams NLEX and TNT prohibited from making direct trades, acquired Michael Miranda and NLEX’s 2019 and 2020 second round selections.
The PBA’s trade committee gave the deal a go after the three teams spent the past few days trying to finalize the trade.
The trade opens the door for Cruz to make his on-court return as early as Friday against Magnolia at the Mall of Asia Arena after he was removed from the active roster by TNT during the Philippine Cup for unknown reasons.
Cruz is also set to reunite with NLEX coach Yeng Guiao, his former coach at Rain or Shine. He was part of Guiao’s last PBA championship with the Elasto Painters during the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup.
His arrival also gives the Road Warriors a much-needed boost as they aim to snap out of a 0-5 start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
NLEX has been struggling to find the consistency at the backcourt position with Kevin Alas out due to a second ACL injury and Kiefer Ravena serving his FIBA suspension until late-August.
Miranda is hoping to revive his career at NorthPort after playing limited minutes since joining TNT from NLEX in an off-season trade.
Jericho Cruz of TnT is guarded by JR Quinahan of NLEX (PBA Images)
NorthPort, which served as a conduit with sister teams NLEX and TNT prohibited from making direct trades, acquired Michael Miranda and NLEX’s 2019 and 2020 second round selections.
The PBA’s trade committee gave the deal a go after the three teams spent the past few days trying to finalize the trade.
The trade opens the door for Cruz to make his on-court return as early as Friday against Magnolia at the Mall of Asia Arena after he was removed from the active roster by TNT during the Philippine Cup for unknown reasons.
Cruz is also set to reunite with NLEX coach Yeng Guiao, his former coach at Rain or Shine. He was part of Guiao’s last PBA championship with the Elasto Painters during the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup.
His arrival also gives the Road Warriors a much-needed boost as they aim to snap out of a 0-5 start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
NLEX has been struggling to find the consistency at the backcourt position with Kevin Alas out due to a second ACL injury and Kiefer Ravena serving his FIBA suspension until late-August.
Miranda is hoping to revive his career at NorthPort after playing limited minutes since joining TNT from NLEX in an off-season trade.