Meralco head coach Luigi Trillo said yesterday the Bolts are seriously studying import options for the Commissioner’s Cup set to unravel on Nov. 27 and with three reinforcements in their EASL lineup, the depth of choices is like a bottomless chasm.
In the EASL, the Bolts are led by imports Allen Durham and DJ Kennedy plus naturalized player Ange Kouame. All three are capable of taking charge in the coming conference but only one will be picked. Aside from the trio, Trillo said Meralco is looking at other candidates. There will be no height limit for imports in the Commissioner’s Cup so it’s open season. Kouame is 6-11, the tallest of the three. Durham and Kennedy are below 6-6. So far, the only sure imports are Barangay Ginebra’s 6-4 5/8 Justin Brownlee, Blackwater’s 6-4 1/2 George King and Magnolia’s 6-8 Ricardo Ratliffe.
“Right now, AD, DJ and Ange are doing OK but we also have a couple of quality options we’re considering,” said Trillo. “Quality guys are available. The coaching staff and management are looking for the best fit.” Durham, 36, is most familiar with the PBA style of play with six conferences under his belt. Kennedy, 34, played briefly for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA and suited up for Miami, Cleveland, Minnesota and Houston in the NBA Summer League and Denver and Dallas in the preseason. Both Durham and Kennedy are hoop globetrotters. Durham barnstormed Romania, Finland, Israel, France, Japan, Uruguay and Korea while Kennedy took his sneakers to France, Russia, Israel, China, Turkey, Australia, Italy, Germany and Ukraine. Kouame, 26, earned his spurs at Ateneo, has played for Gilas and came from a stint in France.
Last Wednesday, the Bolts traveled to Okinawa to face the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the EASL. Over 1,000 Filipinos were at the sold-out Okinawa Arena to witness Meralco’s second EASL outing this season. In their first assignment, the Bolts downed the Macau Black Bears, 97-85 at the MOA Arena last Oct. 2 with Chris Newsome hitting 18, Kennedy and Durham 17 apiece and Kouame nine.
Against the hometown Golden Kings, Meralco was without Cliff Hodge, Aaron Black, Allein Maliksi and CJ Cansino. Ryukyu sprinted to a 19-point lead then Meralco brought down the deficit to three twice in the fourth quarter but couldn’t jump the hump. The Golden Kings held on to win, 77-74 even as Kennedy fired a game-high 30 points. Newsome shot 18 and fouled out with six minutes left.
“Meralco played well but Newsome getting fouled out killed them,” noted EASL CEO Henry Kerins. “It was a full arena and the homecourt was a factor.” Trillo said a flat start put the Bolts in the hole early. “We got a little shell-shocked with their physicality,” he said. “Ryukyu strengthened their guard spots with strong and quick perimeter defenders. We were down by 15 at the half. We limited them to 26 in the second half. Momentum was on our side in the fourth. Before the game, we got a standing ovation when we went out on the court and also after the game. Ange is still not comfortable on the floor, dragging his feet. He’ll get in better shape and strengthen his knee with us. CJ, AB, Allein and Cliff will be able to start joining us for our next EASL game against Busan at the PhilSports Arena on Nov. 13.”