With recent PBA trade, De Ocampo brothers reunited at Talk N Text

MANILA, Philippines - Make that a "Bond of Brothers Part Two" for the De Ocampos. Ranidel de Ocampo, the six-foot-six member of the national team that will play in next year's FIBA Asia Men's Basketball Championship, will be reunited with elder brother Yancy in the Philippine Basketball Association. This developed after Air21 and Talk N Text agreed to swap the younger De Ocampo and veteran center-forward Don Allado. Besides getting Allado, Air21 also acquired the rights to Talk N Text's first-round pick for 2012. Air21 had already locked the rights to San Miguel Beer's future first-round picks for the next three years (2009, 2010 and 2011). The De Ocampo brothers were former teammates at the Saint Francis of Assisi in the National Capital Region Athletic Association where they starred in a handful of championship seasons for the Doves. "I told Talk N Text management that Ranidel is a rising star while Don is a veteran. Although they are both receiving maximum salaries, we felt na medyo angat si Ranidel so we got their first round pick as well for 2012," Air21 representative to the PBA board Lito Alvarez told GMANews.TV. De Ocampo, who has been the Express' main man up front, learned about the trade Tuesday when Air21 management informed him that he will be shipped to the Tropang Texters. He bid his teammates goodbye during practice on the same day, the only team de Ocampo has played for since he was drafted in 2004. "I told Ranidel to look at the trade positively. He has a chance to shine at Talk N Text. At the same time, I think it's an opportunity for JR Quinahan and Doug Kramer to shine as well," Alvarez added. The six-foot-six Allado, meanwhile, will be playing for his third team since turning pro in 2000. He played for Alaska Aces before he was traded to Talk N Text. - Rey Joble, GMANews.TV