THE first team to have bring in an import for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup is now the last one to hire one in.
Meralco disclosed its decision not to bring back Ismael Romero for the mid-season conference, and instead will be tapping 7-foot American Marvin Jones as his replacement.
Team manager Paolo Trillo said it was in the best interest of the franchise to part ways with the brawny, 6-foot-10 Romero in the aftermath of his physical attack on former PBA player and Zamboanga Valientes member Nick Demusis during the recent 35th Dubai International Basketball Championship.
READ: Belga on next Rain or Shine-Meralco game: 'Exciting laro na 'yon'
Trillo made the confirmation in the Power & Play program of former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala.
“We just felt that this time is the best for him and for us not to line him up and not to field him in this conference with regards to the issue and game he had overseas,” said the Meralco team manager.
“We’re looking for another import that we’ve come to terms already. We’ll be fielding in Marvin Jones,” he added.
Romero was first brought in by the Bolts as their import for the EASL Home and Away Season 3 last September, but with the long-term plan of also employing him to reinforce the team in the Commissioner’s Cup which featured no height limit among imports.
But while Meralco was on a break in the EASL, Romero briefly took his act to Libyan ballclub Al Ahli Tripoli to play in the annual Dubai cagefest where the unfortunate incident with Demusis happened.
Romero still managed to return to the country and resume practicing with Meralco following the episode, but left the Philippines and flew to Puerto Rico almost two weeks ago when he suited up for the Puerto Rico national team in the second window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
It proved to be the last time the 32-year-old import would be seen with the Bolts.
Jones, 32, will be arriving in the country on March 2, just two days before the March 11 opening of the second conference.
Meralco though, won't be playing its first game until March 18 against Converge at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
