KERBY Raymundo leaving B-Meg marks the end of an era. JC Intal coming in to the Llamados’ roster is the start of a new.

“With Kerby (Raymundo) leaving, it’s the end of an era,” Cone said. “We will miss his skills and his professionalism. I wish he would have preferred to stay with us.

“JC brings youth, athleticism, and much-needed defense to our line-up. He’ll make a great pairing with James (Yap). We’re excited to start a new era.” Raymundo, the 10-time All-Star who won three championships with the Llamados, officially left his team of 10 seasons to join sister team Ginebra, bringing his exceptional low-post talent and remarkable touch from medium distance to the most popular ball club in need of enhancement.

The three-team, five-player trade where Raymundo was part of was approved yesterday by PBA Commissioner Chito Salud in one of the quickest decisions ever handed down over a deal that involved a marquee player.

“The three-way trade was fairly sound and reasonable,” said Salud. “The teams gave and received players and picks of relative even value and use for their respective purposes.

“The trade among Ginebra, Barako Bull and B-Meg is approved without revision in accordance with the policies of the Office of the Commissioner and the rules of the league.”

Ginebra also acquired promising rookie Dylan Ababou in the pact, and B-Meg took in Intal and Barako Bull’s 2012 second-round pick. The Energy, meanwhile, snatched Ronald Tubid, Reil Cervantes and the Kings’ 2014 second-round pick.

Since B-Meg and Ginebra cannot engage in trades directly, the pact required a third party, and the operation went like this: Ginebra sent Intal for Ababou of Barako Bull. The Energy then dealt Intal and its 2012 second-round pick, acquired from Air21 (formerly Shopinas.com), to B-Meg for Raymundo before the Energy traded Raymundo to the Kings for Tubid, Cervantes and the future pick.

On the outside, Ginebra appears to have acquired the valued assets in the deal. But Siot Tanquingcen, the Kings’ head coach, has yet to witness how his ball club will perform in an actual game.

“Hopefully the entry of Kerby and Dylan would balance the team better,” said Tanquingcen. “But of course, everything is just in theory right now. We still have to see what we can do on the court. And losing JC, Ronald and Reil wasn’t easy for us, too.”

Cone will now try to start a fresh stage for the Llamados and attempt to forget what had happened in the Philippine Cup where the Llamados lost a twice-to-beat advantage against Powerade in the quarter-finals in Cone’s first conference with his new franchise.

Tanquingcen, on the other hand, will once again go through chemistry experiments. Ginebra has re-hired Rudy Hatfield, and is expecting more playing time from Rico Maierhofer, who had already recovered from an ACL injury, and the return of Allein Maliksi, the rookie deadshot who won the PBA D-League’s MVP honors last year.

Barako Bull, a team composed of veteran players, just gold older.

“It’s sad because Dylan is young and the energy of the team,” said Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi. “But we’re also excited because Tubid is Tubid.”