MANILA, Philippines — A day before the PBA Annual Rookie Draft, Barangay Ginebra dealt veteran stars Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle to Terrafirma in exchange for Stephen Holt and sweet-shooting big man Isaac Go.
The deal was sealed on Saturday, boosting the Gin Kings with two solid players in Holt and Go, best remembered for playing the lead roles in the Dyip's first playoff appearance in the Season 48 Philippine Cup since 2016.
Part of the deal also saw Ginebra acquiring Terrafirma's no. 3 pick in the Rookie Draft slated this Sunday, July 14, while the Dyip will get the Gin Kings' 10th pick in the first round.
The swapping of picks meant guaranteeing another fresh young talent for the league's most popular squad, which lost top wingman Jamie Malonzo to a calf injury in the Philippine Cup.
Even starting playmaker Scottie Thompson is still dealing with a back injury that prevented the Season 46 Most Valuable Player from playing for Gilas in the just-concluded FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia.
Should Justine Baltazar and Sedrick Baltazar emerge as 1-2 picks in Sunday's rookie draft proceedings, Ginebra has a chance at nabbing a rich pool of talents that include RJ Abarrientos, Dave Ildefonso, Evan Nelle, among others.
Holt averaged 17 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.9 steals for the Dyip in Season 48, numbers that easily bolster a Ginebra side that will be out to dominate next season.
On the other hand, the 6-foot-7 Go averaged 11.7 points and 7.1 rebounds, while making over 36 percent from three-point distance.
Meanwhile, the 35-year-old Standhardinger is coming off a solid Season 48 for Ginebra, emerging as no. 2 in the Most Valuable Player stats race behind his consistent numbers of 19.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
Pringle, on the other hand, provides a veteran presence at the backcourt for the Dyip.