[UPDATED]
MERALCO has pulled the trigger on an import change after a crushing Game 3 loss, bringing in Egyptian national player Patrick Gardner as the Bolts look to keep up with TNT in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
Sources said Gardner is slated to replace Marvin Jones, pending submission of pertinent documents to the PBA Commissioner's Office that will make him eligible to play in Game 4 of the best-of-seven semifinal series on Wednesday.
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Meralco team manager Paolo Trillo later confirmed the news.
The Bolts will make the switch after a 77-75 loss in Game 3 to a Tropang 5G side that was left without an import after Bol Bol sustained a Achilles tear injury.
Jones had 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting and 15 boards in the loss that left the Bolts trailing, 1-2, in the semifinal playoff.
Listed at 7 feet, the American-Egyptian played in the G League with the Long Island Nets and Osceola Magic after going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Rookie Draft, and most recently in the Japan B.League with Fukushima Firebonds.
If all goes well, Gardner is set to make his PBA debut on Wednesday against balik-import Chris McCullough, a former PBA champion with San Miguel who has been tapped by TNT to replace the injured Bol.
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