The trade market continues to surprise, with the latest deal seeing veteran forward Joseph Eriobu move from the Magnolia Hotshots to the Terrafirma Dyip in exchange for a second-round pick in the PBA Season 52 draft. While the league has approved the trade, the transaction immediately raises questions regarding the asset management of Terrafirma.
Eriobu, a $6'4"$ forward, has just wrapped up a Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 stint at the Southeast Asian Games, but his value in the $5\times 5$ format is subject to heavy debate, especially given the steep price paid by the Dyip.
The Problem of Age and Performance
The most significant point of contention is that Terrafirma is spending a valuable future asset on a player who has not consistently produced a level of performance to warrant such a pick.
Age and Inconsistency: Eriobu is currently 33 years old. While he is known for his hustle and physicality, his PBA career averages have been modest. Over his career, he averages approximately 4.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game across 103 total games, with his most recent two seasons at Magnolia seeing him average only $3.2$ to $4.0$ PPG in limited minutes (Source: RealGM, Wikipedia). He has not proven anything to warrant a second-round pick from a team that desperately needs to accumulate future assets.
A Proven 3x3 Player, Not a 5x5 Star: Eriobu's greatest impact has arguably been felt in the PBA $3\times 3$ league, where he has been a top scorer and contributor. However, the dynamics of half-court basketball do not always translate to sustained success in the $5\times 5$ league.
The True Cost: A High-Value Future Pick
The key issue is the pick Terrafirma surrendered: a Season 52 second-round pick. While this is a second-rounder, its true value is far higher than the designation suggests.
Two Cycle Future: We are talking about the 2027 PBA Draft (Season 52), a full two years away from the current cycle. This pick carries the inherent speculation that makes distant draft capital so precious in the PBA.
Likely a Top-3 Pick: Given Terrafirma's history of consistently finishing at the bottom of the standings (they held the 1st overall pick in the Season 50 Draft, for instance), there is a very high probability that this pick will be one of the top three second-round picks. A top second-rounder in the PBA is often where teams find high-value role players or even border-line first-round talents. Terrafirma, a team in perpetual rebuild, should be hoarding these picks, not spending them on veteran role players.
While Eriobu's energy and size will undoubtedly help fill a hole in Terrafirma's frontline, the trade is a questionable transaction that sees the Dyip once again trade away valuable future capital for a short-term solution who is already in the latter stages of his career.
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