Air21 prepares for PBA future, seals three-team trade deal

MANILA, Philippines – Preparing for the future and wanting to have a balanced roster are the main reasons why Air21 took part in a three-team deal with Purefoods and Ginebra. “We are continuously investing on our future," said Air21 president and incoming Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) chairman Lito Alvarez. “Since the coming conference is an import-flavored tournament, we want a balanced line-up and we would like to give our potential players a chance to shine in other teams." Air21, which will carry Burger King in the PBA’s next conference, sent Don Allado and KG Canaleta to Purefoods while shipping JC Intal and Doug Kramer to Ginebra on Monday in exchange of future draft picks. “We also have to look at the future of our players. Allado and Canaleta are two talented players. While they will help us a lot, I believe they will shine more with Purefoods since it needs to strengthen its frontline," said Alvarez. Alvarez added Intal and Kramer will be also be a big help to a Ginebra team that has been riddled with injuries. “We believe that (Intal) was put in a difficult position of playing under he shadows of Arwind Santos, Canaleta and Gary David and with Cyrus Baguio already in our line-up, we felt that he could excel more with Ginebra, which is lacking the no.3 spot." “Kramer will also provide depth in Ginebra’s frontline rotation rather than playing with us. And since this is an import-laden conference, guys like Homer Se and JR Quinahan will most likely play the power forward spot and he will be dislodged, so it’s better to see him shine in another team," added Alvarez. Aside from getting a future draft pick from Purefoods, the Express also got rookies Beau Belga and Chad Alonzo, and rookie Chico Lanete, who was later traded by Air21 in Ginebra along with Intal and Kramer for first-round picks in the 2012 and 2013 rookie draft. – GMANews.TV