COLUMN: Easy to see who got better end of Balanza trade
CHICAGO – At age 22, Jacob Lao was officially announced as the youngest team manager in the 49-year history of the PBA.
Two years into his job at Converge, he is already starting to make a run as perhaps one of the most results-oriented officials to ever hold the position.
Last Wednesday, Jacob arranged a trade with Magnolia. It was a one-sided deal that favored an independent team over a powerhouse and SMC affiliate. Such equations are impossibly rare in the PBA.
Lao shipped Jerrick Balanza to the Hotshots for a second-round draft pick.
Balaza is a good player, with Letran pedigree. But somehow he didn’t fit in coach Aldin Ayo’s system and was used sparingly – 6.6 minutes per game where he averaged 2.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and .08 assists.
NEED AND WANT.
The essence of a trade is to acquire a player you want, which Magnolia did given its need for more contributors in the absence of injured key players Rome De la Rosa.and Aris Dionisio.
By the same token, a more important element of a trade, one that is much harder to navigate, is to discard an asset a team no longer needs and still get a fair return of investment.
Instead of having a seldom-used asset on the bench, Converge now has the opportunity to get fresh draft talent that would best suit its rebuilding plans. On top of it, the FiberXers are emancipated from the monetary obligations attached to the remainder of Balanza’s contract.
Balanza could be a difference-maker with the Hotshots but given coach Chito Victolero’s over reliance on his core, it remains to be seen how much playing time, if any, can Balanza get behind Paul Lee, Mark Barroca and Jio Jalalon.
Look, Converge also traded Abu Tratter to Magnolia last January. VictoIero isn’t using the Fil-Am much at all. Now, who won that trade?
NEW SCHOOL EXECUTIVE.
I don’t know the sleeping habits of Jacob Lao but it’s safe to assume the former Ateneo Blue Eagle woke up whistling the day after the Balanza trade.
It must be noted that Converge lost Maverick Ahanmisi and Jeron Teng as of late but those players were already there when he took over and much as he wanted to keep them, Lao also had the responsibility to balance the books.
Having freed up precious cash, Lao then used it to sign long-term max extensions to Justin Arana and Alec Stockton, two stars who actually want to be with Converge and share the team’s vision.
Jacob isn’t done weaponizing his position to shape Converge as a legitimate title contender.
After getting rid of Mac Tallo and putting Schonny Winston on the trading block, more room has been created for what is expected to be a lean, mean machine in the next conferences.
From a reporter’s standpoint, Lao – the son of Strong Group Athletics billionaire owner Frank Lao – is easy to like.
Jacob is a new school team manager. Transparent and accessible in good times and bad. When issues emerge, he doesn’t hide in a veil of secrecy while giving bland generalizations to answer tough questions.
And for that reason, Converge will be a fun ride to watch.
News Related
-
Anyone who’s purchased gift baskets to hand out to loved ones this holiday season might need to find a backup present after the latest food recall that involves festive cookies. Gift basket company Wine Country Gift Baskets just announced that it is voluntarily recalling all gift baskets that feature Acorn Baking ...
See Details:
Recall Just Announced For Popular Cookies Featured In Holiday Gift Baskets
-
LOS ANGELES: Quarterback Jalen Hurts ran in an overtime touchdown to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 37-34 NFL win over the Buffalo Bills Sunday (Monday in Manila) and move them to 10-1 on the season. The Eagles, who lost the Super Bowl to Kansas City last season, trailed at half-time ...
See Details:
Eagles rally past Bills in overtime as Chiefs win
-
Yen Makabenta First word WHILE UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other promoters of the climate emergency are preparing to convene the 28th conference of the parties (COP28) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the United Arab Emirates, starting on November 30 and stretching to December 12, ...
See Details:
Reality bites the green energy agenda
-
Sandigan orders Marcos Sr. pal to pay workers The Sandiganbayan has ordered the enforcement of a July 2023 ruling ordering a Marcos Sr. associate to pay a lumber company’s workers P2.1 million in damages as well as return 60 percent of their company’s shares and pay all unpaid benefits. The ...
See Details:
Sandigan orders Marcos Sr. pal to pay workers
-
DSWD: Shear line, LPA affect 1.2 million people; over 18,000 families evacuated MANILA, Philippines – More than 18,000 families have fled to evacuation centers across flood-affected regions in the country due to the impact of the shear line and low pressure area. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gave ...
See Details:
DSWD: Shear line, LPA affect 1.2 million people; over 18,000 families evacuated
-
-
MANILA, Philippines: The entire Luzon, including Metro Manila, is expected to experience isolated rain showers and thunderstorms as the northeast monsoon (“amihan”) and easterlies will be affecting the country over the next 24 hours, the state-run weather agency said on Tuesday. Weather specialist Patrick del Mundo of the Philippine Atmospheric ...
See Details:
Rain showers, thunderstorms over Luzon, including Metro Manila — Pagasa
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
'Naruto' live-action film adaptation is in the works
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
NASA Highlights Stingray Nebula
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Manila's Lagusnilad underpass opens
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
China probes debt-ridden financial giant
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
China's VUCA situation
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Unraveling the mystery that is diabetes
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Bangladesh's nuke plant is not going to steal PH investments
OTHER NEWS
ALIW Awards Foundation Inc. President Alice H. Reyes has released the names of finalists for the 2023 Aliw Awards to be presented on Dec. 11, 2023, at the Manila Hotel ...
Read more »
WhatsApp Web gains the feature of single-view photos and videos (Photo: Unsplash) The WhatsApp Web, the desktop version of the popular messaging app from Meta, has received an update allowing ...
Read more »
Young athletes’ time to shine in Siklab Awards MANILA, Philippines — The future heroes of Philippine sports will be honored during the third Siklab Youth Sports Awards on Dec. 4 ...
Read more »
Graphics by Jannielyn Ann Bigtas A local government official said Monday that five to 10 barangays in Northern Samar are still isolated following the massive flooding in the area last ...
Read more »
DyipPay app lets you pay jeepney fare, book tricycles “Barya lang po sa umaga.” Everyone who rides jeepneys knows this rule: it may not be an actual law, but it’s ...
Read more »
Updated In-Season Tournament Bracket ahead of pool play finale Tuesday will mark the last day of pool play for the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. From there, six first-place teams and ...
Read more »
PCG forms teams for maritime emergency response MANILA, Philippines — Recent incidents of fishermen lost in the waters off Southern Tagalog have prompted the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to form ...
Read more »