PBA: Meralco sends Gabby Espinas to Alaska for Jay-R Reyes

Two PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinalists exchanged big men Friday as the Meralco Bolts sent Gabby Espinas to the Alaska Aces for Jay-R Reyes.

The trade, which was described as a "done deal" by CK Kanapi, Sports Development Manager of the Alaska Aces, also allows the Aces to swap first round draft picks in the upcoming PBA Draft should Meralco's selection be higher.

Upon learning of the trade, Reyes took to Twitter to say goodbye, tweeting out, "On your way to reyes gym to say thank you and goodbye to my team! thank you @Alaska Aces ! grateful to be part of a great organization!"

on our way to reyes gym to say thank you and goodbye to my team! thank you @Alaska_Aces ! grateful to be part of a great organization!

— Jayr Reyes (@jreyes888) May 11, 2012
 

Reyes, a 6'7" big man who played college basketball for the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, appeared in 11 out of Alaska's 12 games in the Commissioner's Cup, with one start, averaging 3.09 points, 3.18 rebounds and 0.36 assists in 14.73 minutes. He did however, leave with a bang, scoring 13 points in 14 minutes in his final game as an Ace, when Alaska was eliminated by the Barako Bull Energy.

The 6'4" Espinas, a former Philippine Christian University Dolphin, on the other hand, was part of the Bolts' first five in seven out of his nine Commissioner's Cup games, putting up numbers of 7.11 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.56 assists over 23.78 minutes. Unfortunately, a slipped disc cut his season short, as he wound up missing his squad's last four games, including their quarterfinals versus eventual champs, the B-MEG Llamados.

The move continues an off-season of change for the Alaska Aces, which parted ways with Joel Banal, and installed Luigi Trillo in his stead last month. - Adrian Dy/RSJ, GMA News