PBA

NorthPort ships Jerrick Balanza to Converge in trade for Allyn Bulanadi

It will be a reunion of sorts for Jerrick Balanza and his former Colegio de San Juan de Letran teammates as the former was shipped by NorthPort to Converge in a one-on-one trade. 

Balanza will join the FiberXers where former Knights in Kevin Racal and Jeo Ambohot are currently suiting up while the Batang Pier will receive Allyn Bulanadi in a transaction that was approved by the league on Wednesday. 

Balanza and Racal won the 2015 NCAA Title together when current Converge coach Aldin Ayo was still calling the shots for the Knights. Then in 2019, Balanza alongside Ambohot helped Letran cop the Season 95 crown before he made the jump to the pros.

In March 2021, Balanza was traded to NorthPort from Barangay Ginebra. 

Meanwhile, Bulanadi, a former Gilas Pilipinas draftee, will also reunite with his former college teammate in NorthPort big man JM Calma, whom he played together in the NCAA for San Sebastian College-Recoletos. 

Bulanadi will join the core of Robert Bolick, Kevin Ferrer, Arvin Tolentino, Arwind Santos, and Jeff Chan. 

The trade of Bulanadi is the second that Converge had figured in this week as the club also sent RK Ilagan, Tyrus Hill, and Mike Digregorio to Blackwater for Barkley Ebona and future draft pick on Tuesday.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News