Meralco taps fresh import

MANILA, Philippines — Only one game is left in Meralco’s schedule before ending its EASL season against the Seoul SK Knights at the Jamsil Students Gymnasium tomorrow night and even as the Bolts are out of contention for a Final Four slot, coach Luigi Trillo brought in a new import 6-9 Alioune Tew to team with 6-7 Shonn Miller for the last stand.

Tew, 31, flew in Saturday and worked out with the Bolts yesterday. Meralco leaves for Seoul today. The Paris-born center from Niagara University has played in Switzerland, France, UK, Spain, Kosovo, Venezuela, Indonesia and Thailand. In the ASEAN League last season, Tew averaged 21.7 points and 19 rebounds. Miller, 30, saw action in five games for Meralco in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup as Zach Lofton’s replacement, norming 22.2 points and 16.8 rebounds.

Meralco is 1-4 in Group B of EASL and a win over Seoul won’t bring the Bolts out of the cellar as the other three teams have won at least three outings. In their first meeting at the PhilSports Arena last Dec. 27, the SK Knights edged Meralco, 81-80 with Lofton, Prince Ibeh and Chris Newsome leading the Bolts charge. Ibeh and Lofton are no longer around.

Additionally, Trillo disclosed that Newsome, Cliff Hodge, Raymond Almazan, Bong Quinto, Chris Banchero, Aaron Black and Allein Maliksi will skip tomorrow’s contest to rest up. In Meralco’s roster are Miller, Tew, Anjo Caram, Diego Dario, Jolo Mendoza, Jansen Rios, Alvin Pasaol, Shean Jackson, Brandon Bates, Kyle Pascual, Reymar Jose and Norbert Torres.

“We wanted to bring everyone (to Seoul) but the Philippine Cup starts Feb. 28 and just really no break for us with all that we did last year,” said Trillo. “We’ve been playing almost 16 months straight with a few weeks of vacation through those months.” Trillo said active coaching consultant Nenad Vucinic will also sit out. “I was offered to take a leave, too, for this game but I’m choosing to go and coach our team,” he said. Although a playoff berth is out of reach, beating Seoul would install Meralco as the top PBA club in EASL. “That would be only the second win a Philippine ball club has gotten over the last three years in EASL,” said Trillo. “It would be not only good for us but for Philippine pride.”