NorthPort quickly ships Vic Manuel to SMB for Arwind Santos

Vic Manuel and Arwind Santos are switching teams in a Monday trade shocker. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--As it turns out, NorthPort is not Vic Manuel's final destination.

If the previous work week ended with Manuel being moved to the Batang Pier, the new work week began with him traded again, this time to the San Miguel Beermen for Arwind Santos.

The PBA trade committee approved the straight-up swap on Monday.

The trade came as a huge surprise as many thought the era of San Miguel's so-called "Death 5" would only come to an end if either Santos, Marcio Lassiter, June Mar Fajardo, Alex Cabagnot, or Chris Ross decides to call it a career very soon.

Instead, the team chose to break up its superstar core by giving up the 40-year-old Santos as it looks to infuse youthfulness to its lineup, something that the fans have been criticizing of them.

In a way, the Beermen did so by bringing in the 34-year-old Manuel, who was earlier shipped to the Batang Pier from the Phoenix Fuel Masters along with Michael Calisaan for Sean Anthony, Sean Manganti, and the Batang Pier's second-round pick for Season 47.

Like Phoenix, SMB was among Manuel's preferred destinations when he publicly declared his intention to be traded from Alaska during the preseason.

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