MANILA---On Wednesday night, they entered the Cuneta Astrodome locker room as Express. They left it as Beermen.

Top overall pick Nonoy Baclao and fellow prized rookies Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Rey Guevarra were all entrusted to be the young cornerstone of a slumping Air21 franchise raring to get out of the cellar.

And then came the eyebrow raising move that took the league by surprise—as the Express dealt away the three rookies, and perhaps their future as well, to San Miguel Beer in exchange for veteran talent.

“At first, I really felt sad. We already have that good chemistry,” said Baclao, who broke into tears in the locker room after learning about the swap. “Nakakapanghinayang talaga.”

Just when the Express are starting to jibe as a unit as evidenced by their win last Friday, ironically against the Beermen, the jarring trade came.

“I really thought we (Air21) were headed somewhere (as a team),” Baclao shared.

But Baclao’s future remains bright as he, along with Al-Hussaini and Guevarra, will take their talents to a team with a winning traditionspelled out with a league-leading 18 championships.

“But maybe this is also another opportunity to shine and show what we really got,” said Baclao. “Actually, my favorite team since I was little is San Miguel.”

The three will make their anticipated debut against Meralco on Friday, an immediate chance to show the league a glimpse of what San Miguel could be with fresh talents in tow.

“It’s a strong team. Hopefully, we can help. I’ll just do my best,” said Baclao, still in shock with what has just transpired.

“We have to take it as professionals, because this is our job. We just have to move forward,” Baclao concluded.

Celest Flores, Phil. Daily Inquirer