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Narvasa explains approval of talked about Kia-SMB swap


By Ivan Saldajeno

BOCAUE—It took three tries before San Miguel finally swung a deal with Kia for the first pick of the PBA Draft.

[Related Story: On third try, Kia-SMB trade for top pick finally approved]

In a news conference on Friday night prior to Game 7 of the PBA Governors' Cup Finals at the Philippine Arena, Commissioner Chito Narvasa explained that it was the best package the Beermen can give to the Picanto for the top pick.

"Yung first proposal, di pepwede yan. On the second proposal, I said no," he said pertaining to the two original proposals that surfaced over the weekend.

[Related Story: Kia shipping top pick to SMB]

The final draft of the swap was almost similar to the original proposal only that Keith Agovida stays with the Beermen in favor of Tubid and that the supposed first rounder is now the Beermen's 2019 pick as their selection this year was given to the Phoenix Fuel Masters in a 2015 trade.

"They asked for McCarthy and Jay-R Reyes. Yung una, dalawa lang yun. Hindi pwede. Then sinama si Agovida at yung 2019 first round pick. Sabi ko, 'Di pwede. Kailangan ng beterano,'" Narvasa explained the veto on the first offer.

On the first tweak, Narvasa said, "I reject that. Huwag niyo nang ipilit sa akin yan." 

He then demanded that Tubid should be inserted to the first package instead of Agovida.

"Ganito na lang. Pag hindi niyo binigay si Tubid within one hour, the deal is off," Narvasa bared what he told SMB's team governor Robert Non. "They called me mga 3 o'clock [in the afternoon]. They accepted the deal, and I have given them the approval already."

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno