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[av_heading heading=’Kia trades Bacolodnon Revilla over cryptic tweet ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Kia Picanto let go of diminutive point guard Luis Alfonso “LA” Revilla on Wednesday, weeks after he posted a cryptic tweet that offended the team management.
Picanto sent the Bacolodnon guard to Phoenix Fuel Masters in exchange for rookie Jayson Grimaldo and a 2018 second round draft pick. The deal was still awaiting approval from the PBA Commissioner’s Office.
Revilla drew the ire of Picanto management for tweeting his reaction on the team’s controversial trade of its top overall pick in the PBA Draft to San Miguel Beermen in exchange for three role players.
“Kung magpapalusot man lang sana ginandahan niyo na ang rason. Hindi talaga e. Bagsak sigurado kayo kung may lie detector,” the Gilas Pilipinas member tweeted on Oct. 27.
Parting ways with the former De La Salle University Green Archers guard was “logical” even if Revilla already apologized, Picanto team governor Bobby Rosales said.
“We could have made it hard for him if we want to by sitting him out for the entire season since he still has a contract with us,” Rosales said. “But hindi naman kami ganoon. Kabuhayan din naman ito noong bata, so we just let him go.”
“At saka mahirap din kung iyong player ayaw na ring maglaro sa’yo. So it’s better that we just trade him,” Rosales added. “We understand where he is coming from but he could have just went straight to us and told us everything.”
Revilla, 27, entered the league when GlobalPort Batang Pier drafted him in 2013. He stayed with the team for a year before Picanto signed him. It was with Kia that he blossomed as starting guard and earned a call-up from Gilas Pilipinas.
With Fuel Masters, the 5-foot-7 Revilla is expected to fight for minutes in a crowded point guard rotation along with veteran Rafael Joey Jazul and Angelo Alolino./PN
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