GLOBALPORT is going all-Filipino in its bid to end its PBA Governors’ Cup campaign on a positive note as it takes on Meralco on Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The eliminated Batang Pier were set to field a new import in Jamal Thomas in lieu of injured Murphy Holloway, seeking to grab their fourth win in 11 games after falling short of the playoffs.
Alternate governor Erick Arejola confirmed the news in a text message hours before the game that tips off at 7 p.m., saying Holloway hurt his hand in their last game, a 118-107 loss to Blackwater last Sunday in Antipolo.
Thomas, however, failed to pass the height limit, the league posted on its Twitter account, forcing the Batang Pier to play with an all-local unit.
The league usually slaps a corresponding fine to teams that are unable to field imports in games in import-laced conferences, but media bureau chief Willie Marcial confirmed otherwise in this case.
“Alam ko wala,” Marcial said in a text message.
The Batang Pier definitely have their work against the title-contending Bolts, who are aiming for their eighth win in 10 games that will secure their spot in the Top Four that comes with a twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs.
“This is the time of the conference when you really need to win games,” Bolts coach Norman Black said after their 106-78 win over Alaska last Friday. “Otherwise you're not going to get it.”
“That's really been the goal of the conference, to try to get that twice-to-beat advantage since that is the incentive,” he added. “I think right now we're just one game away from getting it.”
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