Red Bull, Ginebra seal Junthy deal

After months of negotiation, Barangay Ginebra and Red Bull finally reached a deal yesterday with the Gin Kings acquiring Junthy Valenzuela in exchange for two draft picks.

The Gin Kings gave up their 2009 second round and 2010 first round picks for Valenzuela – the team’s latest acquisition coming after the sudden re-entry of Fil-Am behemoth Alex Crisano Saturday.

With 15 players on their roster, coach Jong Uichico has to relegate one to the reserve list for Valenzuela to be able to play as the Kings battle the Coca-Cola Tigers Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Rookie JR Aquino was placed on the reserve list on the return of Crisano, who was granted clearance by no less than the Office of the President.

At Red Bull, Mark “Big Mac” Andaya was reactivated from the reserve list to fill the void left by Valenzuela.

“We will miss Junthy. He’s among our original players and a key ingredient in our success. But just like the other trades, we’ll find ways to make up for his absence,” said Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao. “We’ll still be contending. We expect not just somebody but several of our players to step up.”

Valenzuela, a Cebuano guard-forward, became the latest of hard-nosed Red Bull talents acquired by another team on a trade deal the Photokina Marketing franchise just couldn’t refuse.

The Bulls have given up in earlier trade deals Kerby Raymundo, Willie Miller, Lordy Tugade, Enrico Villanueva and Larry Fonacier.

With Valenzuela gone, Mick Pennisi has been left as the lone remnant of the original Red Bull team that joined the league in 2000.

Several Ginebra players, including Sunday Salvacion, had been offered in exchange for Valenzuela before Red Bull settled for the two future draft picks.

Meanwhile, Danny Seigle was named Accel-Smart PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period April 6-13.

Notwithstanding a recurring foot injury, Seigle racked up the numbers propping the Beverage Masters to back-to-back wins in the week that was in the Fiesta Conference.

In an 89-81 breakthrough triumph over the Alaska Milk Aces last Friday, Seigle had 18 points, 14 in the second half. He shot 6-of-11 from the floor, added six rebounds and spiked it up with three assists and a steal.

He followed that up with a team-high 18 points on 8-of-14 field shooting plus 10 rebounds, two assists and as many steals in a 91-86 victory over the Phone Pals last Sunday.

Those points were enough to keep Seigle in the company of Barangay Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa as the only locals to lead their respective teams in scoring in the import-flavored tournament.