Tenorio goes to Ginebra in 5-way trade

MANILA, Philippines - Alaska Milk and four other teams finally agreed on a complicated trade transaction yesterday, paving the way for LA Tenorio’s release from the Uytengsu ballclub and his possible continued stint with the national team.

Tenorio moved over from Alaska to Barangay Ginebra with Global Port, Barako Bull and Petron Blaze helping make the deal.

Other players involved in the multi-team trade transaction were two-time MVP winner Willie Miller, Rico Villanueva, Dondon Hontiveros, Jayvee Casio, Wesley Gonzales and Hans Thiele.

With Tenorio, the Aces also released Gonzales and Thiele and, in return, acquired the services of Casio and Hontiveros plus a future draft pick.

Global Port got Miller plus Ginebra’s 2014 first round draft pick, Barako Bull reacquired Villanueva while Petron absorbed Gonzales and Thiele.

Commissioner Chito Salud approved the deal.

“These trades are balanced and even. They will result in a more competitive league in terms of lineup strengths and potentials. As always, fundamental in my evaluation of trades is the parity among involved parties,” said Salud.

“We wish LA well and thank him for his leadership while he was wearing the Aces jersey. He will be successful wherever he goes. At the same time, we believe Casio can bring a lot of dynamism to our team and has the youth to have a long career with Alaska,” said Alaska team owner Wilfred Uytengsu.

“It’s been a stressful day and thankfully it’s over,” said Tenorio.

 “I have mixed emotions. There’s the feeling of shock I’m leaving Alaska and good feeling I will have this opportunity to play for Ginebra. It’s a new chapter in my career and I’m ready to move on,” Tenorio also said.

Tenorio believed Alaska got a good deal.

“Imagine Jayvee Casio and Dondon Hontiveros joining Cyrus Baguio, Sonny Thoss, Gabby Espinas, Mac Baracael. That’s pretty solid,” said Tenorio, who will be reunited with former San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen at Ginebra.

Meanwhile, Thoss didn’t need to go somewhere else to get the approval to play for Smart Gilas in the coming FIBA Asia Cup.

Thoss got the clearance from Uytengsu after their heart-to-heart talk yesterday.

“We believe the FIBA Asia Cup later this month to be of less significance and do not see the need to contribute players. Nevertheless, we are making Sonny available on a limited basis. We need to focus on our campaign for the upcoming season given our sub-par performance last season and we need our players to be focused and healthy,” said Uytengsu.

“I talked to the team about this right after our last game in June and the players committed to making the sacrifices necessary to regain competitiveness. We want a team of players who will live by this commitment,” Uytengsu added.

The 6-foot-7 center, the chief sub to naturalized player Marcus Douthit, was cleared to join Gilas on condition that he immediately flies back to Manila if the team is knocked out of contention.

Thoss was thankful to Uytengsu, saying he’ll do the most out of his stint with Gilas.

“Playing for the national team gives me an opportunity to grow further as an athlete. It’s basically going up to the next level,” Thoss was quoted on-line.

“I know boss Fred is concerned with my health because I will have to practice with the team immediately once we’re done playing in the Asia Cup. But I also explained that this is an opportunity for me to play for the country. And he understood my point,” Thoss also said.