Barangay Ginebra has struck another deal with NorthPort.
A week since trading Greg Slaughter and Christian Standhardinger, the two teams figured in a deal anew as Ginebra shipped Jerrick Balanza in a swap of second-round picks with NorthPort.
Ginebra let go of Balanza and its No. 24 pick to move up in the draft by acquiring the No. 13 pick of NorthPort.
The PBA approved the trade on Friday, March 12.
With the transaction, Ginebra will pick back-to-back at the end of the first and at the beginning of the second round as it also holds the rights to the No. 12 selection.
NorthPort, meanwhile, still has two important picks in the first round – No. 2 and No. 11 – despite slipping to No. 24 in the second round.
Balanza is expected to see an increase in minutes at NorthPort as he hardly saw action for Ginebra in its title run in the Philippine Cup last season.
The sophomore guard will reunite with his former Letran coach Bonnie Tan, who serves as NorthPort team manager.
At NorthPort, Balanza joins a bevy of former Ginebra players in Slaughter, Kevin Ferrer, Jervy Cruz, and Paolo Taha.