SAN Miguel Beer and NorthPort are hoping to strengthen their line-ups before the start of the PBA Season 46 Governor’s Cup later this month.

In doing so, San Miguel and NorthPort have agreed to a blockbuster trade that would send former PBA MVP Arwind Santos to the Batang Pier and newly-acquired forward Vic Manuel to the Beermen.

The one-on-one trade was already approved by the PBA Commissioner’s Office, according to the report in the official PBA website.

The exchange of veteran players came less than 48 hours after NorthPort acquired the 34-year old Manuel and wingman Michael Calisaan from Phoenix Super LPG last Friday.

In return, the Fuel Masters received Sean Anthony, the 2019 top Defensive Player, sophomore Sean Manganti, and a 2021 second round draft pick.

Santos, the No. 2 overall draft pick by Air 21 in the 2006 PBA Draft, won nine championships in 12 seasons with the Beermen.

The 40-year-old Santos was also named MVP in 2013 and Finals MVP twice in the 2011 Governor’s Cup and 2015 Philippine Cup.

Santos , who played for Far Eastern University in the UAAP, also won two Best Player of the Conference awards and seven Mythical First Team selections.

It was the third time that Manuel was traded this year

Last February, Alaska Milk sent the 34-year-old power forward from Nueva Ecija to Phoenix for the latter’s sixth and 16th overall selections.

Manuel, however, played only eight games for the Fuel Masters in the recently-conluded PBA Philippine Cup before he and Calisaan were dealt to the Batang Pier for Anthony, Manganti and next year’s second round choice.

Manuel, who was selected at No. 9 by B-Meg Llamados during the 2012 PBA Draft, played for Alaska from 2014-2020 where he earned the monicker the “Muscle Man”.

The trade is expected to help the campaigns of San Miguel, which lost to eventual champion Talk N Text in the semifinals of the PBA Philippine Cup, and NorthPort in the coming import-favored second conference.

Manuel’s entry is expected to add muscle to San Miguel, which already boasts of MVP June Mar Fajardo and Mo Tautuaa.

Santos, on the other hand, will provide the much-needed leadership to NorthPort and its talented line-up that counts on Greg Slaughter, Robert Bolick and Jamie Malonzo.

Meanwhile, the PBA board of governors has set a Nov. 20 kickoff for the inaugural PBA 3×3.

Commissioner Willie Marcial said the stand-alone 3×3 competition will be held at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City and will serve up exciting hoops action before 5-on-5 hostilities return.