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| James Kwekuteye joins NorthPort's guard-heavy unit. PBA Images (file photo) |
MANILA--Right before the PBA returns to action from the Holy Week break, the league first approved a trade between Blackwater and NorthPort.
On Wednesday, the PBA trade committee announced a swap, sending James Kwekuteye to the Batang Pier and Abu Tratter to the Bossing.
Kwekuteye instantly emerged as a spark plug for Blackwater when he was drafted in 2023, but he has seen limited time so far in the Philippine Cup, especially due to the stellar performance of Rookie of the Year contender Sedrick Barefield.
Kwekuteye now joins a NorthPort squad loaded with guards, including Evan Nelle, his former teammate with San Beda.
Like Kwekuteye, Tratter also struggled to find adequate playing time for the Batang Pier, all the more Arvin Tolentino and William Navarro have become stellar at the forward position.
Tratter will now join a Bossing squad looking to shore up its frontline to give Barefield ample support down low.
Curiously enough, both Blackwater and NorthPort will square off on Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, which means Kwekuteye and Tratter will first suit up for their new teams against their old clubs.
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