Wheeling and dealing GlobalPort bags Japeth Aguilar and Sol Mercado

(UPDATED) The GlobalPort Batang Pier, who won only one game in the just-concluded Philippine Cup, have pulled off two major trades that instantly bolstered their line-up and could make them serious contenders in the upcoming Commissioner’s Cup.

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According to a tweet from the team’s official fan page Twitter account (@GPortBatangPier), the Batang Pier have bagged six-foot-nine Japeth Aguilar, the Meralco Bolts’ talented guard Sol Mercado, seldom-used big man Yousef Al-Jamal and reserve players Kelly Nabong and Jaypee Belencion.

The two deals, which have already been approved by the Commissioner’s Office, will send GlobalPort center Rabeh Al-Hussaini to the Tropang Texters for Aguilar and guards Rey Guevarra and Josh Vanlandingham and rookie forward Vic Manuel plus a 2015 first-round draft pick to the Bolts for Mercado, Al-Jamal, Nabong and Belencion.

GlobalPort head coach Junel Baculi confirmed the mega-deal trade to Yahoo! Philippines in an SMS message while expressing enthusiasm with the addition of Mercado and the high-leaping Aguilar.

“Coach, approved na,” Baculi stated in the forwarded message that originally came from team manager BJ Manalo.

Baculi, who previously called the shots for Barako Bull, has been tapped to take over the coaching mantle from Glenn Capacio after the Batang Pier notched only a lone win in 14 outings last conference.

Already armed with scoring dynamo Gary David and former two-time MVP Willie Miller, the entry of Mercado, who posted league-best averages of 19.1 points and 6.7 assists in 16 games with the Bolts in the all-Filipino Cup, and Aguilar, a former top draft pick in 2009, seems to turn GlobalPort into a genuine force to reckon with.

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Baculi, however, was guarded in his optimism, saying: “We’re happy with that (trade). But it’s just the start of our rebuilding and it doesn’t guarantee (a championship right away).”

“The players should know that our main objective is to improve first our standing and the team’s chemistry. We should also earn the right to be a member of this league,” he added.

Baculi also shared he already tackled the issue with the players involved during the team’s practice Thursday morning.

“I already talked to them (Thursday) morning. I told them that the main problem is ‘yung playing time (of the wingmen). Andyan pa si Gary and Willie and they’re superstars in their own right. Kaya sayang ‘yung talent nung iba kung hindi mayu-utilize,” he added.

GlobalPort opens up its Commissioners Cup campaign against equally retooled Petron Blaze on February 8 and Baculi insisted the Batang Pier have the work cut out for them.

“On paper, magandang tignan (angline-up). But the real works start now. We only have little time to prepare now and build our chemistry. Factor talaga diyan ‘yung time element. We’re up against Petron on the opening day and that’s a tall order for us,” he stressed.

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