PBA okays hot KIA-San Miguel deal

MANILA, Philippines — Fil-German center/forward Christian Standhardinger is bound to join four-time MVP awardee June Mar Fajardo and his other superstar teammates in the San Miguel Beer ball club next year.

Two days before the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft, league commissioner Chito Narvasa approved the Kia-San Miguel Beer trade deal involving the top pick in the coming draft exercise.

In the end, San Miguel gained the precious draft rights in exchange for JayR Reyes, Rashawn McCarthy, Ronald Tubid and SMB’s 2019 No. 1 draft selection. 

Narvasa took time to explain how they came to the decision to resolve the contentious deal that drew uproar from the fans and team owners including Alaska Milk’s Wilfred Steven Uytengsu.

Narvasa said Kia drew trade offers not just from San Miguel but from other ball clubs.

“Obviously, they like the one offered by San Miguel,” said the league chieftain in a press conference an hour before Game Seven of the Barangay Ginebra-Meralco title playoff at the Philippine Arena.

Nonetheless, Narvasa said he made sure that the final trade deal would be for the best interest of the league and the fans.

He said he ordered several revisions before he finally gave his approval.

“The first trade deal was Kia’s draft rights for JayR Reyes and McCarthy. I said right away hindi pwede yan (It’s not acceptable),” said Narvasa.

“The one reported in the news was the draft pick for Reyes, McCarthy and the addition of Keith Agovida. Agovida already came from Kia, and so I disapproved the deal, too,” Narvasa added.

For the deal to push through, Narvasa said he advised San Miguel to sweeten the pot.

“Kia said they need a veteran shooter, and I asked San Miguel to include Tubid in the trade. I gave them one hour to accept it or the deal is off. Boss Robert Non (of San Miguel) just called to say they approved the deal,” said Narvasa.