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PBA: Mallari okay with NLEX's 'business move,' excited to join Phoenix

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/12/13/20181213-pba.jpg"/></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines -- There were no hard feelings for Alex Mallari upon learning that he had been traded by the NLEX Road Warriors to the Phoenix Fuel Masters, just days ahead of the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft.Phoenix had sent the No. 4 pick in the draft to NLEX, in exchange for Mallari and Dave Marcelo. For coach Louie Alas, it was the right deal to make, as they needed a veteran guard and a big man.&quot;Mallari is a winner, Dave Marcelo is a winner,&quot; Alas told reporters at the sidelines of the PBA Draft Combine. &quot;Sino ba ang hinahanap namin? &#x27;Yung mga winner.&quot;Mallari made a surprise appearance at the Gatorade Hoops Center on Thursday afternoon, and was initially reluctant to discuss the trade as it has yet to be officially approved by the Office of the Commissioner.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/pba/news/2018/12/13/pba-draft-no-ray-parks-sunday-s-showcase-51044">READ: No Ray Parks in Sunday&#x27;s showcase</a></li></ul>But he acknowledged that the news was already out in the open and described it as a &quot;<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/13/18/pba-phoenix-acquires-mallari-marcelo-from-nlex">business move</a>.&quot;&quot;NLEX wanted to head in a different direction, and Phoenix decided that they wanted me, so the trade happened,&quot; he said.It&#x27;s not the first time that Mallari found himself switching teams. In 2016, he was sent to the Mahindra franchise after a successful stint with Purefoods, and in 2017 he was traded to the NLEX Road Warriors.&quot;I&#x27;m just here to do this job. It&#x27;s not new to me,&quot; he said. &quot;I understand that the team wants a different direction. It&#x27;s all part of it.&quot;&quot;Anytime your contract is up, you don&#x27;t know what&#x27;s gonna happen,&quot; he added. &quot;If something comes up, you&#x27;re not gonna be shocked about it. Whatever happens, happens.&quot;The 31-year-old guard is now looking forward to the next phase of his career. Phoenix was one of the surprise teams of the 2018 PBA Governors&#x27; Cup, as the Fuel Masters earned the second seed before eventually falling short in the quarterfinals.&quot;There&#x27;s a lot of talent in Phoenix this year,&quot; said Mallari.&quot;Last (conference), they finished top two right? They wanted to prove that they can compete with the big boys. So, hopefully, I can help them take the next hurdle to the finals. Who knows?&quot; he added.Mallari admits that he is already looking forward to playing with Phoenix&#x27;s enigmatic forward Calvin Abueva.&quot;That&#x27;s one of the first things I thought about, Calvin,&quot; he revealed. &quot;Everything he brings is unorthodox, wild, chaotic-ness.&quot;&quot;I&#x27;m actually excited to play with him and Matt (Wright). They got a lot of talent there, for sure,&quot; Mallari said.The swingman expects to start training with Phoenix by Friday. As of the moment, the trade papers are already at the Commissioner&#x27;s Office.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

There were no hard feelings for Alex Mallari upon learning that he had been traded by the NLEX Road Warriors to the Phoenix Fuel Masters, just days ahead of the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft.

There were no hard feelings for Alex Mallari upon learning that he had been traded by the NLEX Road Warriors to the Phoenix Fuel Masters, just days ahead of the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft.

PBA: Mallari okay with NLEX's 'business move,' excited to join Phoenix

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PBA: Mallari okay with NLEX's 'business move,' excited to join Phoenix

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 13, 2018 07:35 PM PHT

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PBA

NLEX Road Warriors

Phoenix Fuel Masters

Alex Mallari

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