Trade benefits
Being traded twice in his rookie season may not be the most ideal situation for players entering the pros.
Unless you’re Mark Omega, and that second trade leads to an opportunity that he gets at Titan Ultra.
On Wednesday, Omega repaid his roster spot by effectively joining the core of young bruisers who had to do the yeoman’s job of guarding Blackwater’s hulking import Robert Upshaw III in Titan’s 102-98 victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“Good thing this (Titan) is where I ended up because I will be more of use to this team [than to other clubs],” Omega said after posting four points and five rebounds in 11 minutes.
The numbers may not be as headline-grabbing as those of top scorer Joshua Munzon, who had 25 points, and import Michael Gilmore’s 21 points and 15 rebounds, but Omega’s defensive role was key in the Giant Risers’ second win in five matches.
Titan Ultra may be the only team he’s played for so far in his young career, but Omega has been moving a lot ever since being taken in the second round by Rain or Shine in the Rookie Draft.
While he was still playing for Letran in the NCAA, Omega’s rights were traded to Converge a month after the Draft, and he would soon find his way to the Titan fold as part of the Calvin Abueva trade in February.
“[Converge assistant coach Danny Ildefonso] told me that it was for the best if I get traded because I won’t be getting any significant minutes,” Omega said. “So far, I’m in a good situation here.”
Omega shared the same duties with fellow Letran alumnus in Pao Javillonar: Make things uncomfortable for the wide-bodied Upshaw, who still wound up with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Upshaw, however, picked up offensive fouls in the fourth as Blackwater fell to 1-4.
Their defensive efforts were an added treat for a good-sized audience that took advantage of the free tickets the PBA gave away as it celebrated the league’s 51st anniversary a day in advance.
It was a welcome sight for one of the league’s regular venues, with attendance in a bit of an upswing this conference as fans marveled at the arrival of tall and hefty imports like Upshaw, TNT’s Bol Bol and San Miguel Beer’s Justin Patton, among others.
The league opened shop on April 9, 1975, at Araneta Coliseum, with Concepcion’s Joy Dionisio scoring the first basket in league history, in a game against Noritake.
Both teams are no longer in the league, with San Miguel, which carried the Royal Tru-Orange brand then, as the only pioneer member left, and owner of the league’s most number of titles with 31.
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