Barkley Eboña heads to Converge; Blackwater gets 3 in 1st PBA trade for 2023

Mike DiGregorio returns to the team where he became a star. Dennis Acosta (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

PUERTO PRINCESA—Blackwater hit some jackpot on Tuesday after acquiring three players from Converge in the first approved PBA trade for 2023.

The highlight of the trade is the return of Mike DiGregorio to the Bossing.

DiGregorio played his best years in the PBA with Blackwater, posting career-highs of 12.4 points, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.1 blocks a game during the 2017-18 season as one of the team's key players.

Initially, both the Bossing and the FiberXers agreed on a straight-up swap between DiGregorio and Barkley Eboña, but Converge added RK Ilagan and Tyrus Hill to the mix in the approved version.

To sweeten the pot, Blackwater traded a first-round pick for the upcoming draft to Converge, the one the former acquired from TNT in the Troy Rosario trade.

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Eboña, the fourth pick of the 2019 draft.

Alaska selected Eboña during the said draft, but two years later, he was sent to Blackwater along with Jvee Casio, one of what fans thought were signs that the Aces will be leaving the PBA.

Converge bought the Aces franchise during the offseason lock, stock, and barrel and became the FiberXers.

On the other hand, Ilagan will give the Bossing an additional weapon especially in the clutch, while Hill looks for a fresh start with the Ever Bilena franchise after playing limited minutes for Converge.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno