After a spectacular campaign during the 41st season of the PBA that was capped by a second place finish during the Governors Cup, the Meralco Bolts injected more young legs to their line-up after drafting two collegiate standouts.
The Bolts were one of the clear winners in the 2016 PBA Rookie Draft after selecting former UST Growling Tiger Ed Daquioag and former CSB Blazer Jonathan Grey. According to coach Norman Black, he was surprised that Grey was still available as they made their pick at seventh.
“I’m very happy. I’m quite surprised, actually, that we’re able to pick up two really good wings because those are one of our weaknesses last year,” Black said.
“I’m a little bit shocked that we got Jonathan Grey in the first round, but I’m happy that we did.”
After their lack of outside shooting and floor spacing doomed them during their first-ever Finals appearance last conference, drafting two guards was a necessity for the team according to the 58-year old mentor.
“We needed to draft two men, guys who can attack the rim and space the floor and we got two very good guys,” he furthered.
But just like what they did with incoming-second year players Baser Amer and Chris Newsome, Black looks to slowly integrate their rookies to the line-up to make their transition to the pro game much easier.
“Lets not make any mistakes, they’re rookies so you’re not going to the season expecting rookies to win games or championships,” he shared.
“But we’re hoping we could develop them the same way we did with Baser and Chris Newsome last year.”
