By taking in Sam Eman, Alaska is now exploring possibilities of trading some of its players to trim down its salary cap for the PBA Fiesta Cup which opens shop on Sunday.

Aces coach Tim Cone said that they are now evaluating the performances of their players so that they can allow the 6-foot-8 Eman play along side with Sonny Thoss.

Eman and Thoss, who stands at 6-foot-7, will form Alaska’s own version of twin tower. Eman, the man from Davao, joined the team last conference as Unrestricted Free Agent with Rights to Salary from San Miguel Beer.

Eman, who turned 28 last Friday and now on his third season in the pro-league, still has one conference left on his previous three-year contract with SMB.

Although Alaska will continue to shoulder the remainder of his salary, Eman, already signed a separate deal with the Aces approximately worth P11 million, reason why Cone said it’s possible that they move some players to other teams.

But the team is still undecided as to who will go and who will not.

“We haven’t done that yet,” Cone told the Bulletin in a phone interview. “Sam has made an impact on our salary cap.”

Cone confirmed reports that one possible trade they are looking at is to send forward John Ferriols to Barako Bull. The 6-foot-4 Ferriols, an eight-year veteran, is one of the key players in Alaska’s frontline rotation averaging 2.9 points and 2.6 rebounds in the Philippine Cup.

“We don’t want him to worry. The reports that John is now going to Barako Bull is very premature,” Cone said.

They tapped as import Diamon Simpson, a 6-foot-5 forward/center who had a previous stint in the NBDL, to boost their title bid in the coming conference.

The Aces are hoping to put their humiliating setback in the Philippine Cup where they were swept away by Purefoods in their best-of-seven title series.