Balanza traded to Magnolia

MAGNOLIA Chicken Timplados added firepower to its arsenal after engaging in a surprise trade with Converge on Thursday, April 11.

The Hotshots netted Jerrick Balanza from Converge in exchange for Magnolia’s Season 49 second round draft pick.

The 6-foot-1 Balanza’s stint under his college coach Aldin Ato at Converge lasted just a little over one year since coming from NorthPort in exchange for Allyn Bulanadi.

His playing time went down significantly in the ongoing Philippine Cup, averaging just 7.2 minutes, thus contributing just 2.7 points and 1.5 rebounds.

However, the former Letran gunner showed what he can do if given the playing time as evidenced in his 9.6 points per game average during the Commissioner’s Cup. He also shot 33.3 percent from three-point zone and averaged 2.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

The 27-year-old Balanza brings additional offense for the defense-oriented Magnolia side, which struggled in its first four games in the Philippine Cup due to injuries to Rome de la Rosa and Aris Dionisio, along with a one-game ban on veteran forward Calvin Abueva.

Magnolia opened the conference with a 31-point spanking of Converge last month, before suffering back-to-back defeats at the hands of long-time rival Barangay Ginebra and NLEX.

Last Wednesday, Magnolia ended its two-game skid by beating NorthPort, 103-97. That win also snapped the Batang Pier’s four-game winning run.