Talk ’N Text is reportedly in talks with Kia Motors as it continues to pursue the latter’s first round selection in this year’s PBA Rookie Draft scheduled Aug. 23 at the Robinson’s Place in Ermita, Manila.
The Tropang Texters are said to be offering in a package deal incoming sophomore guard Kevin Alas and veteran forward Ranidel de Ocampo for Kia’s first round picks this year and in 2016.
Spin.ph first reported the proposed trade, although a source said that there is no finality yet and that trade may be revised upon approval of Manny V. Pangilinan, the TNT boss and owner of Meralco and NLEX.
Initial talks has it that Kia – to be renamed Mahendra Enforcers next season – already is agreeable on getting Alas in exchange for the No. 2 pick overall this year.
Alas, however, will not stop at Kia as he will be shipped to NLEX for Aldrech Ramos and Raoul Soyud. The deal for De Ocampo is said to be a one-on-one trade however as TNT gets the first round pick in 2016.
Talk ’N Text already owns the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft following a previous trade with Blackwater for reserve veteran forward Larry Rodriguez, who has been inactive the past five months.
TNT is expected to select Fil-Tongan forward Moala Tautuaa, the reigning PBA D-League MVP after playing for Cebuana Lhuillier. The 6-foot-10 Tautuaa also played for the Cagayan Rising Suns in the D-League and the Westports Malaysia Dragons in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).
If TNT and Kia agree on a deal, the Texters are eyeing center-forward in Troy Rosario, who stands 6-foot-7 and has helped the National University Bulldogs win the UAAP men’s basketball title and the Gilas Cadets to a gold medal finish in the last Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.