Meralco is currently in search of someone to replace Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who suffered an Achilles injury in their previous game in the East Asia Super League.
Nothing is set in stone yet as far as Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s replacement in Meralco’s East Asia Super League campaign is concerned.
Head coach Luigi Trillo had this to say days after the reinforcement suffered an Achilles injury in the Bolts' 93-91 win over the Macau Black Bears, which is expected to sideline him for more or less a year.
“So we have some names. We’ve sent it to our management and coach Nenad (Vucinic),” said Trillo after Meralco made a triumphant return to PBA action via a 120-87 dumping of hapless Terrafirma Wednesday, Dec. 10.
[RELATED STORY: Meralco Bolts carry over fine play from EASL to PBA]
Trillo added that the squad is expecting to have someone on board in late January.
“We’ll probably have him in maybe, the third week of January. There are certain names. We’ll have to find someone,” Trillo added.
Though the Bolts shifted their focus to their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup campaign, where they are making a push for the playoffs, Trillo said they are dedicating their EASL journey to the former Brooklyn Net.
“He kind of told us after that game he was injured. He had some words. This game was actually dedicated to him. Our EASL tournament right now will be for him as well,” said Trillo.
[RELATED STORY: CJ Cansino, Meralco dedicate PBA PH Cup win to injured RHJ]
Before returning to the PBA, the Bolts roared to three straight victories in the EASL to go above .500 with a 3-2 record.
Their next assignment in the latter will be against the Ryukyu Golden Kings in February.
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.