Pessumal traded to San Miguel for Van Opstal

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – The San Miguel Beermen acquired another lethal wingman in rookie Von Pessumal via a trade in exchange for center Arnold Van Opstal.

The PBA announced the trade via its official Twitter account on Monday, July 10.

TRADE!@GlobalportPH acquired the rights to @Arnoldvanopstal @TheSMBeermen acquired the rights to @von19#WeArePBA pic.twitter.com/shJjmfLLvf

— PBA (@pbaconnect) July 10, 2017

Pessumal, 24, will be moving after two productive seasons with the GlobalPort Batang Pier and straight to a Grand Slam-seeking San Miguel squad for the season-ending Governors’ Cup set to tip off on July 19.

He played all of GlobalPort’s eliminations and quarterfinals games so far this season, averaging 5.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in over 15 minutes a game.

The ex-Ateneo Blue Eagles standout is likely to bolster the Beermen’s second unit and add more depth to a team that relies heavily on its talented starters.

The 25-year-old, 6-foot-5 Van Opstal can expect to get decent playing time as he shores up the Batang Pier’s frontline, especially for the all-Filipino conference next season.

The former DLSU Green Archer became a third option in his two conferences so far with San Miguel, with reigning 3-time MVP June Mar Fajardo playing at his peak and veteran bigman Yancy de Ocampo serving as his primary backup.

Van Opstal played only 4 games in the Commissioner’s Cup, including just over 4 minutes in two finals games. In the Philippine Cup he saw action in 5 games.

Save for the Commissoner’s Cup, where coach Leo Austria has learned he can employ and succeed with a small ball lineup, Fajardo has consistently played heavy minutes. 

Thankful for this opportunity  I’m eager to learn from the CHAMPS! Lets get to work!!! #FearTheBeer

— Von Pessumal (@von19) July 10, 2017

Both Pessumal and Van Opstal were drafted last year through the Gilas Special Draft and are members of the national team’s cadet squad. Each of the cadets are playing for one PBA team and can be pulled out at any time for Gilas Pilipinas duties. Pessumal is slated to see action in the Jones Cup next week and the Southeast Asian Games next month.

One of the conditions of the special draft was that Gilas cadets were not to be traded during their first two years, but PBA media chief Willie Marcial clarified to Rappler that the two-year no-trade agreement only pertained to a cadet being traded for a regular PBA player.

Marcial said all teams had agreed at the time that any cadet may be traded for each other, except for the number one pick Mac Belo, who plays for Blackwater. – Rappler.com