Romeo finally goes to TNT, Tautuaa GlobalPort-bound as blockbuster swap finally approved

Mo Tautuaa will finally take his high-flying acts to GlobalPort. Dennis Acosta (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--The trade that has been the talk of the town since the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals is finally on.

Terrence Romeo will now play for TNT as a revised version of the swap with GlobalPort was made official on Tuesday.

As per the original proposal, the Batang Pier will acquire Mo Tautuaa in the process, but the new trade deal will now see Yousef Taha heading to the KaTropa.

On the other hand, TNT will ship its 2020 first round pick and 2021 second round pick to GlobalPort as well.

The trade rumors surrounding Romeo sprung up right after the Batang Pier's PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal game against the Magnolia Hotshots that saw him and Coach Pido Jarencio exchanging words during a timeout when it was revealed that GlobalPort and TNT tried to go for the Romeo-Tautuaa trade just before the playoffs of the soon-to-end conference with Bradwyn Guinto and Alfrancis Tamsi also included in the package only to be vetoed by a special trade committee formed by Commissioner Willie Marcial.

In the revised version that was actually given the green light on Monday, Romeo and Tautuaa will still swap kits, while Taha will provide the extra muscle inside for the KaTropa even as the Batang Pier can focus their rebuilding on their newly acquired draft picks.

Interestingly, Romeo, Taha, and Tautuaa will make their debut with their new clubs against each other as TNT and GlobalPort will face off in the opening night of the PBA Commissioner's Cup on April 22 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

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Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno