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PBA: Kia plan to trade top pick would undermine draft, Alaska boss Uytengsu says

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ABS-CBN News

Alaska team owner and former PBA chairman Fred Uytengsu said the proposed trade between Kia and San Miguel Beer would defeat the purpose of the draft.The planned deal has caused an uproar on social media when reports surfaced that Kia was willing to give up its top overall pick in exchange for three San Miguel players.This means, Kia is surrendering the chance of getting big man, Filipino-German and Gilas mainstay Christian Standhardinger, the consensus top overall pick in this coming PBA Rookie draft.“The purpose of the draft is to strengthen the weaker teams. However, what we have seen lately is these weaker teams end up selling their top draft picks because if you look at who is being traded in return,” Uytengsu said in an article posted on <a href="http://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/news/wilfred-uytengsu-slams-dubious-trade-involving-san-miguel-and-kia#kIumpt06BkUAveeE.99">Spin</a>.“It clearly doesn’t make basketball sense for the weaker teams, unless there is other consideration.” <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/24/17/what-pba-commissioner-narvasa-is-thinking-as-kia-smb-plot-draft-day-trade">READ: What PBA commissioner Narvasa is thinking as Kia, SMB plot draft-day trade</a></li></ul>Based on the initial proposal submitted to the Office of the Commissioner, Kia is giving up its top overall pick for the Beermen’s Jay-R Reyes, Keith Agovida, and Rashawn McCarthy. It was later revised with San Miguel willing to ship veterans Yancy de Ocampo, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Gabby Espinas and McCarthy for the top pick.PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa is still evaluating the proposal. He said he has spoken with Alfrancis Chua of the San Miguel group and Kia&#x27;s Bobby Rosales.“At the end of the day, it has to be about what’s good for the PBA families themselves, and the teams themselves,” he said.Uytengsu, however, still has reservations given the salary cap allowed per team. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/21/17/pba-execs-not-pleased-about-kia-plan-to-send-standhardinger-to-san-miguel">READ: PBA execs not pleased about KIA plan to send Standhardinger to San Miguel </a></li></ul>“There is already a lot of doubt about Kia benefiting financially if this trade were to go through, and you have to wonder if they are even making the league minimum salary cap,” he said(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.)

Alaska team owner and former PBA chairman Fred Uytengsu said the proposed trade between Kia and San Miguel Beer would defeat the purpose of the draft.

Alaska team owner and former PBA chairman Fred Uytengsu said the proposed trade between Kia and San Miguel Beer would defeat the purpose of the draft.