Bingo could be Red Bull’s lucky draw

His name is Bingo and he’s keen on making Red Bull Barako look like it has won the lottery jackpot when he suits up as the Thunder’s new import tomorrow in the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference.

Bingo Merriex has been tapped to replace Carlos Wheeler, who played only one game in the league’s transition tourney.

Merriex, a former Texas Christian University mainstay, debuts against the Sta. Lucia Realtors at 4:45 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena tomorrow.

"Bingo wants to be able to come back to the PBA every year so he’s raring to show his worth in this conference," said import-agent Mike Gonzalez.

Moments after striking a deal with Red Bull Barako, Merriex promised he won’t let the Thunder down.

For one, he’s thankful to the team management for the trust and confidence given him. Second, he wants to prove something to another PBA team that had junked him even before he came here.

Merriex, who averaged 12.6 points and 7.5 rebounds in his stint with TCU, was first offered to Barangay Ginebra after Jermaine Walker suffered an injury while playing pick-up game in the US.

The Ginebra management, however, opted to nix its deal with Merriex after the player failed to arrive in time to have some workouts with the Kings before the start of the conference.

As it turned out, immigration problem in Lebanon, where he had a recent stint with the Blue Star ballclub, was the reason why Merriexís canít arrive in Manila on time.

According to Red Bull Barako team manager Tony Chua it didnít take long for them to decide to sign up Merriex, who is already in town..

Just consider Merriex being picked No. 1 overall by the Texas Rim Rockers in the 2003 USBL draft. Curiously, one player picked 17 rungs behind him was future NBA No. 1 draft pick LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

After Lenny Cooke damaged his left ankle, Purefoods also tried to sign up Merriex but was beaten by Red Bull Barako in the draw.

Thus, the Thunder seek to bounce back from a sorry defeat to the Phone Pals Wednesday.

The Realtors also yielded their first game in the conference to the Alaska Aces but they are returning to action confident of an improved game on the possible comeback of ace wingman Kenneth Duremdes.

The 1998 MVP awardee sat out their game versus his former team Saturday as heís nursing a strained right calf muscle.