By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Antiqueño center Tzaldy John Rangel is headed to the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters after being shipped by the NLEX Road Warriors as part of the two-team, three-player trade.

The former National University Bulldogs center was sent to the Fuel Masters along with veteran guard Reden Celda in exchange for Benedict Adamos going to the Road Warriors.

The trade could be a welcome development for the PBA career of the 6-foot-7 Rangel, who has yet to see action in the league since being selected by the Road Warriors as the no. 1 pick in the special Gilas Pilipinas draft in 2021.

Rangel only saw action once for the national men’s basketball team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, where he had two assists and one rebound in six minutes before being released back to the Road Warriors.

On his return, the Antiqueño big man was relegated to NLEX’s 3×3 squad before being given an opportunity to play in the ongoing PBA on Tour tournament.

In two pre-season matches with the Road Warriors, Rangel averaged 2.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 0.5 turnovers in almost 10 minutes of action as an off-the-bench center.

At the Fuel Masters camp, Rangel will serve as a backup center behind fellow Western Visayas-based player Raul Soyud (from Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City) and Larry Muyang.

On the other hand, the Road Warriors gained additional depth in their frontline rotation with Adamos, who played for NLEX head coach Frankie Lim when he was still with University of Perpetual Help Altas.

The 6-foot-7 Adamos joined the growing list of former players of Lim who is now with the Road Warriors, aside from Elvin Jake Pascual, Ilonggo Clint Doliguez and Anthony Semerad.

Celda will provide an additional veteran presence in the youthful guard rotation of the Fuel Masters, which currently has a strong 2-0 start in the 2023 PBA on Tour.