The Kia Picanto has decided to part ways with top guard LA Revilla who earlier questioned the team’s decision to give away the No.1 pick in this year’s draft.
The Picanto sent Revilla to the Phoenix Fuel Masters in exchange for rookie Jayson Grimaldo and a 2018 second-round draft pick.
The deal was first reported by Gerry Ramos of Spin.ph on Wednesday.
In an interview with Nelson Beltran of Philippine Star, team executive Bobby Rosales expressed “disappointment” with Revilla, whom he regarded as the “face of Kia”, after the guard posted a tweet blasting the Picanto for giving up the No.1 pick to powerhouse San Miguel Beermen in a controversial trade.
Revilla’s tweet, which has been taken down, read: “Kung magpapalusot man lang sana ginandahan niyo na ang rason. Hindi talaga eh. Bagsak kayo sigurado kung may lie detector.”
In the deal, Kia received three seldom-used SMB players and a future pick. The Beermen used the No.1 pick to nab Filipino-German center Chrsitian Standhardinger in this year’s draft.
Kia defended the head-scratching trade, deeming it as necessary in its shift to an “unconventional and positionless” style of play.
Revilla, who made the All-Star last year, averaged 6.5 points, 3.6 boards and 5.1 assists in his last conference with Kia.