By Adrian Stewart Co
NorthPort Batang Pier and Rain or Shine (ROS) Elasto Painters kicked off the trading frenzy this 2021 after agreeing to a three-player swap transaction that is pending the approval of the PBA Commissioner’s Office.
Based on the deal agreed upon on late Monday, Ilonggo guard Clint Doliguez and Sidney Onwubere are set to head to the Batang Pier, while Guinto moves to the Painters.
Doliguez, a former standout of Hua Siong College of Iloilo Red Phoenix before moving to Manila for college with Ateneo de Manila University in UAAP and San Beda University in NCAA, averaged 4.1 points and 1.1 rebounds in his first year in the PBA.
Onwubere’s detachment from the Rain or Shine also came as a surprise after submitting career averages during the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup of 5.7 points and 3.5 rebounds.
Doliguez will join the crowded Batang Pier backcourt that features fellow Ilonggo Juan Paolo Taha, Bacolodnon LA Revilla, Robert Bolick, Garvo Lanete, Nico Elorde, Renzo Subido, and Jonathan Grey.
Onwubere, a former Emilio Aguinaldo College standout, also has to fight for minutes at Batang Pier as he joins fellow forwards Sean Anthony, Kevin Ferrer, Kelly Nabong, Sean Manganti, and Jervy Cruz.
Guinto, on the other hand, is a welcome addition for the Painters as he will add heft and deft to its frontcourt manned by Beau Belga, Jewel Ponferrada, Norbert Torres, and Rashleigh Rivero.
The 6-foot-6 Guinto just recovered from a knee injury but was good enough to play in nine games for the Batang Pier last season, when he averaged 2.2 points and 1.7 rebounds./ASC, WDH