James Kwekuteye reunites with Evan Nelle as Blackwater sends him to NorthPort

James Kwekuteye is set for a reunion with former college teammate Evan Nelle after Blackwater and NorthPort got involved in a one-on-one trade on Wednesday. 

The Bossing sent Kwekuteye to the Batang Pier in exchange for Abu Tratter as both teams continued to find the pieces in their ongoing campaigns at the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup.

The deal will see Kwekuteye sharing the same side of the court again with Nelle six years after their days with San Beda University in the NCAA. 

Kwekuteye and Nelle were part of the Red Lions squad that ruled the NCAA Season 94 in 2018, teaming up with future PBA stars Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon, and Calvin Oftana. 

They returned to the finals the following year, but fell to Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Season 95 Finals. Eventually, Nelle decided to transfer to De La Salle University in UAAP while Kwekuteye stayed in Mendiola. 

Nelle would win another collegiate crown after helping the Green Archers reign supreme in UAAP Season 86 while Kwekuteye steered the Red Lions to a pair of Final Four appearances in Seasons 97 and 98. 

They will now get to replicate that brotherhood and championship experience in NorthPort, who is looking to follow up on its semifinals stint in the previous conference. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News