MANILA – Defensive ace Jiovani Jalalon is set for a new home as NorthPort Batang Pier and Blackwater Bossing finalized a straight swap that will send the 33-year-old guard to Blackwater in exchange for Bacolodnon big man Justin Chua.
League insiders confirmed that trade papers have already been filed with the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and are awaiting approval.
Jalalon’s NorthPort contract is due to expire on September 30, but under PBA rules he cannot yet enter unrestricted free agency as he still needs one more conference to reach the 21-conference threshold.
The Cagayan de Oro native, drafted in 2016, has long been recognized as one of the league’s top defensive guards. He averaged 8.33 points, 4.67 assists, 4.44 rebounds, and 1.44 steals in the 2025 Philippine Cup and was named PBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.
Should the deal push through, NorthPort will bring in Chua, a 6-foot-6 stretch big man with a proven knack for floor spacing. The 35-year-old veteran, who entered the league in 2013 as the 10th overall pick by GlobalPort, has logged stints with San Miguel, Barako Bull, Meralco, TNT, Phoenix, and NLEX before joining Blackwater, where he appeared in 11 games last conference.
The swap is expected to shake up both rosters—Jalalon bolstering Blackwater’s backcourt rotation, while Chua shores up NorthPort’s frontline with size and shooting./PN
