Meralco is looking to fill two vacancies in its lineup, reinforcements to banner its teams in the Philippine Basketball Association and the East Asia Super League.
Head coach Luigi Trillo confirmed this to DAILY TRIBUNE on Tuesday.
This is after it gave Feron Hunt the walking papers for failing to meet the team standards.
The highly fancied G League star, according to Trillo, couldn’t live up to Meralco’s expectations as the young player was sent packing by the Bolts even before the PBA could unveil its new season.
It also released Serbian import Uros Lukovic, the seven-foot big who likewise failed to impress the coaching staff.
“We’re looking for two imports,” wrote Trillo via Messenger. “We’re looking for imports to play in the PBA and EASL (East Asia Super League).
Hunt, an athletic 24-year-old forward, played in a two-way contract while serving both the New York and Westchester Knicks in the NBA and the G League.
But his first tournament outside of America was more of a disastrous campaign for the former Southern Methodist University Mustangs star.
‘We’re looking at imports who have experience playing in Europe.’
The Qatar International Basketball Tournament turned out to be a good test at how far the Bolts could go with Hunt on board. Trillo, active coaching consultant Nenad Vucenic and consultant Norman Black felt he’s not the right fit for the team.
According to Trillo, the team needs someone who’s more experienced playing in the international level.
“We’re looking at imports who have experience playing in Europe,” added Trillo, referring to the two imports who will shore up the Bolts’ campaign both in the PBA and EASL.
These two imports will play together in the EASL.
Meralco takes over the spot of Barangay Ginebra, which begged off from participating in the EASL’s first home-and-away tournament which will start 12 October.
Aside from the Bolts, reigning Governors’ Cup champion TNT, will also represent the PBA in this prestigious tournament.
The Tropang Giga dethroned the Gin Kings as the champions of the season-ending Governors’ Cup. But they are bringing in a banged up team after losing key players Roger Pogoy and big men Poy Erram and Justin Chua, who were still recovering from illness and injuries.
In the EASL, the Tropang Giga will parade Quincy Miller, who will be teaming up with reigning Governors’ Cup Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Miller saw action last year for Converge, but was replaced after having a falling out with coach Aldin Ayo while Hollis-Jefferson led the Tropang Giga to the championship.
