Feron Hunt may have played only a pair of games in the National Basketball Association but it doesn’t mean that he is not a good player.
Meralco consultant Norman Black was impressed, saying that Hunt could help them win their first title in the Philippine Basketball Association.
“He’s a good player. He’s very athletic. But that’s all I can say now because we will only determine how good of a player he is once he plays in actual games,” said Black, who is tasked to guide newly-appointed head coach Luigi Trillo starting in the Commissioner’s Cup.
Under Black, Meralco had shares of good imports, including Allen Durham, Tony Bishop and K.J. McDaniels.
Durham is a three-time PBA Best Import while Bishop led the team to a championship entry.
McDaniels donned the Bolts jersey for two conferences but couldn’t get the job done as he fell short of leading the team to a title.
Black is hoping Hunt could live up to expectations.
But for Trillo, Hunt, who will be playing overseas for the first time after dazzling in the NBA G League, remains a work in progress.
“We all know that he did so well while he was playing in the G League, but he still needs to adjust to the level of play in the PBA,” said Trillo in a telephone conversation with Daily Tribune.
“I just realized that he needs our help to make him even better. He needs to get more familiar to the PBA brand of play and hopefully, with preseason games, we’re going to achieve it.”
The PBA has decided to push back its calendar from its original opening date of 15 October to 5 November after the Bay Area Dragons decided to pull out from participating.
Aside from pinning its hopes on its import, Meralco also looks forward in the coming PBA Rookie Draft, which just started its Draft Combine.
The Bolts are picking No. 8 in the Draft and Trillo is excited to select the best player available.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t seen the potential first rounders here,” Trillo said.
“We haven’t seen (Henry) Galinato, (Stephen) Holt or (Keith) Datu.”
