As someone who's been covering the PBA for over a decade, I can tell you this 2021 trade season has been particularly fascinating. Watching teams scramble to adjust their rosters while navigating the ongoing pandemic challenges has created a perfect storm for speculation and strategic moves. What really caught my attention this season was how teams are responding to both immediate needs and long-term planning, especially considering the injury situations affecting key players across the league.
Let me start with June Mar Fajardo's situation because honestly, it's changed everything. When he went down with that calf injury in Game 1, I thought San Miguel's season might be over. But watching his progression has been remarkable - his numbers have improved consistently as the series advanced, which tells me two things: his recovery is ahead of schedule, and he's adapting his game to work around any lingering limitations. In Game 3, he was already putting up 18 points and 12 rebounds compared to just 8 and 6 in that first game after the injury. This development has forced other teams to reconsider their trade strategies completely. Teams that were counting on San Miguel being vulnerable without a fully healthy Fajardo are now scrambling.
The Alaska Aces, in my opinion, are making the smartest moves right now. They're actively shopping for additional big men, and I've heard from multiple sources they're willing to package two future second-round picks plus a rotation player to get what they need. They recognize that even at 80% capacity, Fajardo remains the most dominant big man in the league, and you need multiple bodies to throw at him come playoff time. What I appreciate about Alaska's approach is they're not panicking - they're making calculated moves based on what they're actually seeing on the court rather than reacting to early-season overreactions.
Meanwhile, TNT's front office has been burning up phone lines trying to acquire another scoring guard. I've spoken with three different team executives who confirmed TNT offered two players and cash considerations for Terrafirma's emerging backcourt talent. From where I sit, this feels like an overcorrection. They're so worried about matching up with San Miguel's perimeter game that they're potentially sacrificing their frontcourt depth, which could backfire spectacularly given how Fajardo is rounding into form.
What many fans might not realize is how much these trade discussions are happening in real-time response to player performances. When Fajardo put up 22 points and 15 rebounds in Game 4, my phone started buzzing with texts from team insiders about renewed interest in available centers. The market literally shifts from game to game, and teams are making evaluations based on tiny sample sizes - it's both thrilling and terrifying to watch unfold.
Ginebra's relative quiet in the trade market surprises me, honestly. They've always been aggressive when they sense weakness in contenders, but they seem content to let their current roster develop chemistry. I think this could be a mistake - their frontcourt looks thin compared to San Miguel's, especially with Fajardo finding his rhythm. Unless they make a move soon, they might find themselves outmatched when it matters most.
The most intriguing dark horse in all this is Rain or Shine. They've got assets to move and have been quietly checking in on almost every available player. What I'm hearing is they're particularly interested in adding veteran leadership to complement their young core. They could emerge as the surprise package that swings a major deal nobody saw coming.
Looking at the bigger picture, what we're witnessing is teams trying to solve the Fajardo puzzle while he's not at 100%. The window to beat San Miguel might be slightly ajar right now, but it's closing faster than many anticipated. Teams that hesitate or make the wrong calculations could find themselves watching from the sidelines come championship time. Personally, I believe we'll see at least two major trades materialize within the next week as teams finalize their assessments of both Fajardo's recovery and their own championship aspirations. The teams that get this right will be remembered for their foresight; those who get it wrong might be looking at another season of what-ifs.