DESPITE already out of the running, Meralco opted to bring in an additional reinforcement when it plays its final game in the East Asia Super League Home and Away Season.
Coach Luigi Trillo said the team tapped 6-foot-9 Frenchman Alioune Tew to be its import along with Shonn Miller when the Bolts play the Seoul SK Knights on Wednesday night at the Jamsil Student’s Gymnasium.
A product of Niagara University, the 31-year-old Tew has played ball mostly in Europe.
Miller, who suited up for Meralco in the Commissioner’s Cup, and Tew will take the place of Zach Lofton and Prince Ibeh.
With the Bolts (1-4) no longer in contention for a semifinals berth, Trillo is looking to give more playing time to his rookies and bench players.
The coaching staff is also planning to just sit out key players Chris Newsome, Cliff Hodge, Bong Quinto, Allein Maliksi, Chris Banchero, and Aaron Black.
The 7 p.m. match will be the first for Meralco in two weeks since being booted out by the Phoenix Fuel Masters in their do-or-die encounter for the last semis berth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The Knights (3-2) meanwhile, are already assured of the last semifinals berth in Group B following their 89-57 rout of Jeremy Lin and the New Taipei Kings at home last week.
Three-time Korean Basketball League Best Import Jameel Warney will once again anchor the Knights, who are Cebu-bound togerher with the New Taipei Kings, Chiba Jets, and Anyang Jung Kwan Jang for the EASL Final Four set March 8-10 at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City.
Meanwhile over at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, also-ran Taipei Fubon Braves (1-4) host Anyang Red Boosters (3-2) in the other game of the EASL doubleheader that on the final day of the four-month eliminations.
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