TNT beefed up its frontline ahead of Wednesday鈥檚 PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup tipoff by acquiring Brandon Ganuelas Rosser through a three-team trade that also involved Blackwater and NLEX.
The 6-foot-6 Mr. Rosser added size and heft to a Tropang Giga frontcourt currently manned by battle-scarred Kelly Williams and Jewel Ponferada and youthful Henry Galinato in Poy Erram鈥檚 absence. Mr. Erram missed the entire Commissioner鈥檚 Cup due to knee injury.
In exchange for Mr. Rosser, the Chot Reyes-coached Tropang Giga released slotman Justin Chua, guard Jaydee Tungcab and their Season 51 first-round draft pick to the Bossing.
The TNT-Blackwater trade followed an earlier swap between NLEX, Mr. Rosser鈥檚 team last conference, and the Bossing.
That arrangement saw the Road Warriors releasing Mr. Rosser to the Bossing, the team that selected him first overall in 2022, while acquiring Ato Ular, Yousef Taha and Blackwater鈥檚 Season 51 first-round choice in place of the Fil-Am banger.
Blackwater and TNT made their moves two days before kicking off their campaign in the All-Filipino versus Meralco and Rain or Shine, respectively, in the curtain raiser at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. NLEX opens its bid on Friday against NorthPort. 鈥 Olmin Leyba
