Evan Nelle traded to NLEX ahead of PBA Govs' Cup

Evan Nelle has been traded to NLEX. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—NLEX stacked up its point guard rotation further by acquiring Evan Nelle from Phoenix in a trade just days before the start of the PBA Governors' Cup.

The Road Warriors announced the approval of the straight-up swap on Tuesday, with Sidney Onwubere heading to the Fuel Masters in the process.

Jumping from one loaded rotation at Position 1 to another, Nelle will now battle for minutes against Robert Bolick and fellow sophomore LJay Gonzales.

However, Nelle's addition means another point guard who can be reliable in crunch time like Bolick and Gonzales, giving new NLEX head coach Jimmy Alapag, himself a clutch performer during his playing days, a good problem on who to trust more in the dying moments.

Alapag trained Nelle before the 2024 PBA Draft, which made the completed trade a reunion for both of them.

Nelle will also reunite with Jamike Jarin, his former head coach at Phoenix, as the latter is now part of the NLEX coaching staff.

Speaking of the Fuel Masters, they added some size by acquiring Onwubere, a six-foot-four journeyman forward.

Onwubere will be tasked with backstopping either the new import, BJ Johnson, or star stretch-4 Jason Perkins.

The Road Warriors begin their PBA Governors' Cup campaign on Friday night against the Macau Giant Pandas at the Ynares Center 1 in Antipolo.

The following night, the Fuel Masters begin their stint in the season-ending conference against the Magnolia Hotshots at the other Ynares Center in Rodriguez, Rizal.