MANILA, Philippines – Third year guard Jeric Fortuna will reunite with his college coach Pido Jarencio at Globalport Batang Pier following a trade with the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Tuesday, March 1.
Globalport team manager Bonnie Tan announced the trade via his Twitter account and confirmed to Rappler in a text message that Phoenix, the PBA's newest team, gets a 2018 second round pick in exchange for Fortuna.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1st trade done by PBA's newest Team Phoenix executed by Mgr Paolo Bugia <a href="https://twitter.com/Bugs021">@bugs021</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/jericfortuna">@jericfortuna</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/GlobalportPH">@GlobalportPH</a> <a href="https://t.co/LybpFLxhKe">pic.twitter.com/LybpFLxhKe</a></p>— Bonnie Tan (@bonnie_t_tan) <a href="https://twitter.com/bonnie_t_tan/status/704546565357068290">March 1, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Fortuna played under Jarencio when he was at the helm of the UST Growling Tigers. They went to battle against Ateneo in the UAAP Season 75 Finals in 2012 but was swept as the Blue Eagles completed their quest for a 5-peat.
The 24-year-old was drafted 14th overall by Barako Bull (now Phoenix) in 2013. He was then shipped to San Miguel Beer in exchange for Paolo Hubalde and was part of the team that won 2015 season's Philippine Cup and Governors' Cup titles.
Before the current season, Fortuna returned to Barako Bull in a swap with another point guard Brian Heruela headed to San Miguel.
Known as a stable playmaker, Fortuna is expected to stabilize Globalport's formidable backcourt together with combo guards Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle.
Pringle is currently nursing a right ankle sprain and will be out for two weeks.
Fortuna saw limited minutes with a Phoenix backcourt led by RR Garcia and Josh Urbiztondo in the ongoing 2016 Commissioner's Cup. He played two of the Fuel Masters' first 3 games and averaged 2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 8.5 minutes.
Phoenix is sporting a 1-2 record while Globalport is at 2-3. – Rappler.com