By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolodnon guard Kib Montalbo is now part of the Blackwater Bossing after being shipped by the TNT Tropang Giga in a two-team, three-player trade transaction on Thursday night, June 27.

Based on the revised trade deal approved by the PBA Commissioner’s Office trade committee, Montalbo and Jewel Ponferrada were dealt to the Bossing in exchange for Rey Nambatac.

The transaction concluded the former De La Salle University Green Archers guard’s four-year stint with the Tropang Giga, which selected him 11th overall during the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft.

During his stay with TNT, the six-footer Montalbo served as a defensive point guard for head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes, and was part of the franchise’s two PBA titles in the 2021 Philippine Cup and the 2023 Governors’ Cup.

Montalbo’s career at the Tropang Giga was also highlighted by two call-ups to the Gilas Pilipinas national team, including the silver medal-winning squad in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games.

During his final season with the Tropang Giga, Montalbo averaged 3.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.1 blocks in almost 18 minutes of action in a total of 23-game appearances.

At the Bossing, the former St. John’s Institute-Bacolod standout will play with Bacolodnon and former Tropang Giga teammate Justin Chua and fellow Negrense James Yap.

On the other hand, Nambatac will serve as an added offensive arsenal for the Tropang Giga, which failed to reach the semifinals round of the PBA Philippine Cup following an upset loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the quarterfinals.

The former Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights star’s transfer to the Tropang Giga came less than four months after he was acquired by the Bossing from the Painters via trade.

Nambatac averaged 11.09 points, 4.36 assists and 2.36 rebounds in 11 games with the Bossing, but made just 36 percent of his shots — including a cold 26 percent from the three-point area./ASC, WDJ