BY NOLI CORTEZ

A SERIOUS illness that will sideline center Romel Adducul for the Smart PBA Fiesta Cup has forced Purefoods to make a harsh decision.

Adducul, who turns 32 on April 21, was reportedly recently diagnosed suffering cancer in his nasal or throat area that will require a long treatment, leaving the Giants with no option but to give up star forward Marc Pingris for Magnolia center Enrico Villanueva.

At least two other teams and as many players were also part of the trade that has been confirmed by at least one official of a squad involved in the deal.

As of press time last night, knowledgeable sources told Malaya the trades are "done" and merely need to be submitted to the PBA for approval.

Adducul could not be contacted for comment yesterday, but his long-time agent-manager, Ed Ponceja dismissed the illness as "nothing to worry about."

"Wala ‘yan. Gagaling din si Romel. Babalik siya sa finals if ever pumasok ang team niya," said Ponceja.

A usually reliable source said the illness is actually a cancer in Adducul’s nasal or pharynx area that is "curable."

Adducul’s malady, known as nasopharyngeal cancer, afflicts the area behind the nose and the back of the throat, which is the hollow tube at the upper part of the throat that starts behind the nose and runs down to the neck to become part of the esophagus or the tube that goes to the stomach. It could be treated through surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Also not available for comment were Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio and Magnolia counterpart Siot Tanquingcen, whose teams were involved in the trade along with Coca-Cola and Ginebra.

Purefoods and Magnolia kick off their Fiesta campaign against each other on April 2.

Under the terms of the trade, Villanueva and Willy Wilson were sent by Magnolia to Coke in exchange for Chester Tolomia and a future draft pick. The Tigers then sent Villanueva to Purefoods for Pin-gris and Wilson to Ginebra for shooter Mark Macapagal. The Kings promptly traded Pingris to Magnolia for Tolomia and the draft pick.

It should be a sad parting of ways for Purefoods and Pingris.

The 6-foot-4 leaper and shot blocker fully blossomed under Gregorio since he was acquired from Air21 before the 2005-06 season, where he was adjudged Most Improved Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Finals MVP of the Philippine Cup and a Second Mythical Team member.

Pingris, 26, normed 9.6 points on 57.84 percent field shooting, 9.7 rebounds and 1.0 block per game in 32 contests in this year’s season-opening Philippine Cup.

Adducul was also a vital cog to Purefoods’ surge after averaging 6.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks a game.

It was the latest in a series of trades that curiously prominently figured Coke and Magnolia.

The Beverage Masters earlier acquired Mike Cortez and Kenneth Bono from Alaska for Larry Fonacier and LA Tenorio.

The Tigers, who also made a deal with Welcoat after acquiring Nic Belasco for Mark Isip, strengthened their backcourt with the addition of Macapagal plus a future second round pick in the draft.