Over the past week, Maverick Ahanmisi announced on a vlog his bold move: requesting big boss Al Chua for a trade. He reasoned he only wants the best for his career, and being with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel was not it. With Ginebra’s glut of guards, it was easy to see Ahanmisi’s reservations. Days later, the 34-year-old guard was gone, shipped to the Terrafirma Dyip along with seldom-used forward Aljon Mariano for the latter’s first-round pick in the 2027 PBA Draft.
Ginebra Plays the Long Game
For Ginebra, it didn’t seem sensible to keep someone who wanted to be traded, so it’s probably why team higher-ups pulled the trigger immediately. Mariano was likely a casualty, a necessary add-on to make sure the PBA’s trade committee would approve the deal.
The deal was approved, all right, and in exchange for Ahanmisi and Mariano, the crowd darlings got Terrafirma’s first pick in the 2027 PBA Draft. Given the Dyip’s recent history, it’s more than likely that said pick will be top three, if not the first overall. So, no, Ginebra didn’t get any live body for two veterans, but they did get what could very well be a game-changing pick in the next draft. The team also freed up two roster spots, which Chua and Tim Cone could use to sign free agents.
Terrafirma Doing Terrafirma Things
There’s no doubt Terrafirma got two solid players in Ahanmisi and Mariano. Ahanmisi, when healthy and playing, is a double-digit scorer still, one who can shoot and get to the paint. Mariano may be seldom used, but he is a tenacious defender and an opportunistic scorer who gets his baskets off hard work and hustle.
But are they worth trading for possibly next draft’s top overall pick? Probably not. At best, this trade is like swapping role players for a potential franchise cornerstone, especially if big names declare for that draft. But then again, it’s not like we should be surprised, right? This is the Terrafirma Dyip, for crying out loud!
Grading the Trade
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel: TBD
For all intents and purposes, this is an “A” or “A+” trade for Ginebra considering Terrafirma’s pick is likely to be either 1 or 2 (or 3 worst case). But in the here and now, the crowd darlings lost two active bodies who Cone could sure use when needed. In other words, they get nothing for the present but potentially something big for the future. Until then, we’ll hold off giving an official grade.
Terrafirma Dyip: B–
Terrafirma, meanwhile, gets a B–. Ahanmisi and Mariano are still solid players who can contribute—points and playmaking for the former, hustle and tenacious defense for the latter. But longer term, the Dyip might have lost out on a game-changer for Season 51 by trading away that valuable pick.
