BY NOLI CORTEZ

COCA-COLA and Welcoat, which finished with the worst elimination records in the recent PBA Philippine Cup, have just made the biggest waves in-between conferences.

In a deal consummated only Thursday evening, the Dragons traded veteran forward Nic Belasco to the Tigers in exchange for sophomore Mark Isip and the team’s two future second round picks.

No documents pertaining to the trade have been forwarded to the PBA office as of yesterday afternoon, but teams officials said the deal is done, with the players already practicing with their new teams.

"It is but the latest in our efforts to build up the team," said Coke team manager Jay Baylon in a text message, referring to the moves the Tigers have made since Coca-Cola Company acquired the squad from San Miguel Corp. in March 2007.

For Welcoat, the move was spurred by the sophomore team’s desire to institute a program that will develop younger players.

Although some quarters have expressed apprehension over the deal because of their knowledge of Belasco’s attitude, the Tigers, no doubt, have just added more fangs to their defense and offense.

Belasco, Sunkist’s second overall pick in 1997 and a former San Miguel Beerman, was traded to Alaska before the start of this season. He started in all 18 games for the Dragons in the last Philippine Cup, averaging 15.5 points, just second behind Joe Devance’s 16.1), plus a team-high 13.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

Isip, Sta. Lucia Realty’s No. 6 overall pick in the 2006 draft and traded to Coke before the start of the current season, played in 18 games, averaging 3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds

Belasco, however, is already 34 while Isip is just 27 and played for Welcoat’s PBL champion team in 2002.

"It’s a win-win situation for both of us," said Raymund Yu, Welcoat co-owner along with Terry Que. "It will help both teams. Coke readily became an elite team and they are now ripe to bag a championship. On our part, Isip’s addition will be part of our efforts to develop younger players along with our franchise."

Coke also made the biggest move in November last year by acquiring Asi Taulava from Talk N Text, a move that worked wonders for the Tigers. Coke wound up with a 7-11 win-loss card in the eliminations for ninth place but surprised everybody by beating Talk N Text twice to go as far as the quarterfinals where it got swept in two games by Red Bull.

Welcoat also tried to beef up its lineup when it acquired Belasco from Alaska just before the start of the current season.

Despite the move, Welcoat lost 11 straight to end the elims and wound up with a 3-15 slate, making it 10th and last for the third straight conference.

"Nung wala si Nic, naka-tatlong panalo kami, nung nandiyan siya, tatlo din lang kami," assessed Yu. "So we decided to trade him and distribute his (average of) 40 minutes a game among our younger players."

With the 6-foot-6 Belasco joining Taulava and Mark Telan in the Tigers’ frontline, Coke has been readily transformed into one of the teams to watch in the Fiesta Cup set to formally kick off March 30.

The 6-foot-4 Isip joins center Jay-R Reyes, Devance and veteran Adonis Sta. Maria.