Air21 ships big man Ranidel to Talk N Text

MANILA, Philippines - In a surprising move in the ongoing KFC Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup, Air21 gave up one of its most reliable and consistent players after the Express traded big man Ranidel de Ocampo for Talk N Text's Don Allado on Tuesday. The deal also included Talk N Text shipping its first-round pick in 2012. "Losing Ranidel is like losing a foundation," said Air21 coach Bo Perasol, who steered the team to a runner-up finish in last season's Fiesta Conference against Ginebra. "He blossomed with the team, a double-double performer with an A-1 attitude. He is a coach's ultimate player. I don't know how anybody can fill in his shoes." The one-on-one trade was formalized Tuesday. De Ocampo is expected to suit up for the Tropang Texters right away when Talk 'N Text plays Ginebra in the main game of a double-header on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum. One of a few local big men who can shoot from the outside, de Ocampo's entry into the telecomms franchise is seen as a huge step in its drive to snap a five-year title drought, filling in a post-up spot the Tropang Texters badly need and which they lost when they sent Asi Taulava to Coca-Cola for Ali Peek last season. Talk N Text's only PBA championship came in the 2003 Philippine Cup against Alaska. At the same time, de Ocampo brings a legitimate outside threat which could lead to match-up problems for opposing teams. A national team member who turned 27 only last December 8, de Ocampo has been averaging 13.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 16 games in the season-opening Philippine Cup. He has a conference-high of 23 points and once grabbed 16 rebounds. De Ocampo was a fourth-round pick by the Express in the 2004 Draft. He was also a four-time MVP in the National Capital Region Athletic Association. While losing de Ocampo may be a big blow to the Express's bid of making it deep into the Philippine Cup, Perasol was left with no choice but to accept management's decision. "The team understands that it is the prerogative of the management to do that, and we all respect that," said Perasol. For his part, Perasol will now have to familiarize Allado with the Air21 system, a rather tough act in this stage of the conference where jockeying for positions for outright berths in the quarterfinals and semifinals are heating up. Allado, who had a glorious UAAP career before moving to the pros with Alaska in 1999, will be suiting up for his third team in the PBA. At 31, Allado's numbers pale in comparison to De Ocampo. He is averaging only 5.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 16 games this conference, even going scoreless in three games. He, however, could act as a big role player for Air21, one who could pose a decent threat from the outside. He will play his first game with Air21 on Friday when the Express battle the league-leading Alaska Aces. At the moment, Air21 is fighting for a spot in the quarterfinals with an 8-8 (win-loss) record. Talk N Text, on the other hand, is one of three teams possessing 9-7 slates and is right well on course to making it to the semifinals outright. - GMANews.TV