A DREAM import team-up that could rival the legendary Michael Hackett-Billy Ray Bates tandem at Ginebra in the 80s in now being cooked up the Meralco Bolts for their coming season of the East Asia Super League (EASL).
The Bolts are set to bring together Barangay Ginebra resident import Justin Brownlee and longtime TNT rival Rondae Hollis-Jefferson as their reinforcements in bid to finally make a mark in the regional tournament.
READ Meralco 'nemesis' Brownlee set to play for Bolts in EASL
Together, the pair have won nine PBA championships (six for Brownlee, three for RHJ) and six Best Import awards. Brownlee also has Asiad and Southeast Asian Games gold medals as Gilas Pilipinas' naturalized player.
Sources told SPIN.ph that Meralco officials are now finalizing details especially the loan agreement for Brownlee with San Miguel Corporation.
Hollis Jefferson is currently on an exclusive one-year contract with TNT while Brownlee is Ginebra's resident import. Both won't be on call in the PBA, which will start its 50th season in October with the all-Filipino Philippine Cup.
Brownlee is set to take the naturalized player spot for Meralco, giving the Bolts an option to sign a second import after RHJ under EASL rules.
Once confirmed, the Brownlee-RHJ combination will surely bring the needed firepower for the Bolts, who have not made the playoffs in their first two appearances in the poplar home-and-way tournament.
Meralco also hopes the popular pair can draw more interest from fans and bring more spectators to their home games, beginning with a match against Taoyuan Pauian Pilots of Taiwan on November 8.
Meralco is the lone Philippine team in the coming season of the EASL that tips off on October 8. The Bolts are slotted in Group B with Ryukyu Golden Kings of the Japan B.League, the Macau Black Bears, and Taoyuan.
Two of the most dominant imports ever to play in the PBA, RHJ and Brownlee are expected to give the Bolts instant impact.
They will be given support in the Bolts campaign by team stars Chris Newsome, Bong Quinto, Chris Banchero, Raymond Almazan and Cliff Hodge.
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