Express strike trade deal with Bolts

After weeks of lying dormant on the shelves, the Air21 Express and the Meralco Bolts finally took action on a long-standing trade proposal.

This developed after the Express sent former top pick Nonoy Baclao and wingman John Wilson to the Bolts in exchange for inside banger Carlo Sharma, the promising Vic Manuel and a draft pick.

The La Salle reunion of sorts continues over at the Express camp as Sharma joins his former Archers coach Franz Pumaren along with Mike Cortez, Simon Atkins and Renren Ritualo, all formerly of the Taft-based school.

The Express also got a versatile forward in Manuel, a former Philippine Basketball League MVP who has yet to show his full potential in the league.

Baclao, meanwhile, returns to the squad that picked him first in 2010. He was traded by the Bolts to the then-San Miguel Beermen the year after.

Wilson, the 2009 NCAA MVP, moves on to his second team and figures to be a key part of the rotation bannered by wingman Nino Cañaleta.