By JONAS TERRADO
Alaska agreed to send its long-time playmaker Jvee Casio to Blackwater in a three-player trade approved by the PBA on Tuesday, Oct. 12.
Under the terms of the deal, the Aces sent Casio and sophomore big man Barkley Ebona to the Bossing in exchange for guard Mike Tolomia plus their second round pick in the 2022 draft.
It was the second trade Blackwater made after going winless in the Philippine Cup eliminations and appointing Ariel Vanguardia as its new coach replacing Nash Racela.
Blackwater sent Simon Enciso, its top scorer in the elims, to Terrafirma for Rashawn McCarthy.
Casio has been with the Aces for 8 1/2 seasons after playing his rookie campaign with Powerade in 2012.
Alaska got Casio after sending LA Tenorio to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in a three-team deal that included GlobalPort (NorthPort), which purchased the Powerade franchise that year.
The former La Salle and original Gilas Pilipinas mainstay was part of Alaska’s last championship back in the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup with a three-game sweep of Ginebra in the Finals.
Casio averaged 9.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 0.7 steals in 322 career games with the Aces.
Blackwater is also getting Ebona, whose appearance in the first conference has been sparse following a solid rookie campaign for the Aces in last year’s bubble.
Ebona played just six games in the elims and produced 1.7 points and 1.0 rebounds, a huge difference from his 7.0-point, 3.3-rebound showing in 12 appearances for the Aces in 2020.
Alaska will receive Tolomia, who will play for his fourth PBA team since turning pro in 2016.
Tolomia is coming off the best conference of his career with 11.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
