From INQ7........


TRADE WAS LORDY's WILL?

IT’S A DONE DEAL and there’s no turning back.

However, reports of demoralization among some players could have caused Red Bull management to feel remorse over the recent Lordy Tugade trade.

I said “could have.” It’s very possible there also may have been no regrets.

* * *
Indeed there have been talks that Lordy didn’t want to be traded and that he was very sad to leave the team where he started his pro career six years ago. His teammates reportedly were just as sad to see him go, which means they could be feeling some sort of resentment towards management.

This is not difficult to believe, considering the manner in which the Barakos lost to Sta. Lucia Realty last Oct. 25, and almost bowed to newcomer Welcoat two days later, if not for the timely gamble of coach Yeng Guiao to roll the dice on Carlo Sharma, Warren Ybañez and Rich Alvarez.

Clearly, the Barakos were not taking their regular dose of Red Bull. They were lethargic, apathetic.

Talks have it that this listless brand of play was an expression of protest, in sympathy for teammate Tugade.

* * *
As far back as last season, I knew for a fact that at least two teams that needed a shooter were vying for the services of the cager. I also knew that the teams had made trade offers to Red Bull which the latter had turned down without thinking twice.

That was how valuable Lordy was to the team at that time.

But things and people change.

Sometime in the All-Filipino last year, the cager’s game started to become as inconsistent as the flight of the rollercoaster that zooms up then plunges down, then zooms up again. And while he had always been very hardworking during practice sessions, his teammates noticed that he had become no longer as diligent.

“Still a trade was out of the question,” said a Barako insider.

* * *

The decision to let go of Lordy was long in coming.

For a while there, it looked like the cager was there to stay. He had an auspicious start in Guam where he played brilliantly against Alaska, contributing in a big way to the Red Bull victory. This was followed by a second victory over San Miguel Beer, although he was hardly a factor in that match. He was never a factor again after the first game.

In their third assignment against Coca-Cola, the Barakos were crushed, pulverized even.

The turning point came when Lordy refused to suit up for the game against Barangay Ginebra last October 15, giving the excuse that his foot was injured.

Yeng however would not hear of a sit out. He insisted that Lordy suit up.

The cager had no choice but to obey. But he did not play.

* * *

The following day, an MRI was ordered on Lordy’s supposedly injured foot. The result was shown to three different doctors who all concurred that there was nothing wrong with the body part.

“Management consulted with all the members of the team on the planned trade. No one objected. It’s hard to figure out why some people are now reacting. It’s deeper than we can fathom,” said the insider.

Does Red Bull regret trading Tugade?

“According to his new teammate, as soon as he was traded, he immediately went into hard practice, despite his claim of a foot injury. He was ready for action as evidenced by his first game for his new team,” related the insider.

“He told his teammate, ‘dapat nga last conference pa ‘ko dito.’ Buti di ka napunta sa Red Bull.’

“Is that the way to talk about a team that has given him the breaks and nurtured him over the years?”

Obviously, there are no regrets.

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