MANILA, Philippines – “That was fast.â€
This was how Justin Chua described the trade that sent the 10th overall pick to GlobalPort in exchange for the 7th overall pick Isaac Holstein on his Twitter account (@justinshaunchua) on Tuesday late afternoon.
His fellow rookie and now GlobalPort teammate Terrence Romeo welcomed him right away with a short reply to Chua’s earlier tweet.
The Mixers packaged Chua with veteran forward Leo Najorda to get hold of the 6-8 Holstein, who is considered to be a project.
The trade came only two days after the draft and a day after an impressive showing in D-League.
The former Ateneo big man came up with 15 points and two blocks in helping Blackwater Sports outlast future PBA prospect Chris Banchero and his Boracay Rum, 87-85, on Monday.
The trade came not as a surprise since Tim Cone was reportedly interested in Holstein after an impressive Rookie Draft Camp but was beaten to the draw by the Batang Pier during Sunday’s draft proper.
The move will likely give Chua a better place to start his PBA career as a projected back-up to both Enrico Villanueva and Jay Washington at GlobalPort’s frontcourt.
Holstein, meanwhile, will have to develop his game fast to earn minutes in the Mixers’ crowded frontcourt that already have Marc Pingris, second overall pick Ian Sangalang, Yancy de Ocampoa and Rafi Reavis.