Blackwater is set to switch imports in a bid to end its historic skid.
The Bossing are in the process of bringing in Shawn Glover to take the place of Jaylen Bond as the ball club continues to hunt for that solution that could finally break their winless spell, which has lasted for over a year now.
Interim head coach Ariel Vanguardia said that their new reinforcement is playing under an open contract with KR in Úrvalsdeild Karla in Iceland, meaning that he could leave anytime and fly to the Philippines to join his new team.
However, securing a working visa isn’t that easy, he added.
“If he gets the visa by tomorrow, he’s flying. But the problem is, he’s sending the requirements to Norway. That’s the nearest consulate, so it’s not as easy as we would’ve wanted, given the Holidays pa that are coming,” Vanguardia explained.
“We’re in communication with Shawn even as we speak regarding the visa, but we don’t know when kung maga-grant,” he furthered. “Once na na-grant, may ticket na siyang ready which is naka-open flight naman.”
Glover is a 31-year-old who’s set to bring much-needed experience, having spent much of his career in Europe for seven years now that saw him win Danish Cup MVP and championship with the Bakken Bears in 2016.
Still, Blackwater isn’t totally letting go of Bond.
Vanguardia said that the team asked if he could stay put as a backup should the Glover plan don’t work out and agreed, drawing praise from the veteran bench tactician for how professional he is in handling the matter.
“We asked him to stay until nga meron na kapalit kung makakarating on time. Jaylen is professional about it naman e,” he said. “Wala ka talagang masasabi. He’s a consummate professional.”
Proof of that was their game against Alaska on Wednesday. Vanguardia said that the 28-year-old forward was nursing a groin injury, but went on to play through the pain with the hope that he could help his side snap its skid.
However, he could only do so much. Visibly limping at times while inside the court, Bond finished with only two points on five shots, five rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block in 23 minutes as Blackwater lost, 75-98.
The Dioceldo Sy-owned ball club has lost for the 24th straight time.
“Today, he tried even though he was hurt. He really wanted to help us. And he had very good minutes in the first half,” said Vanguardia as Blackwater only trailed by single digits, 43-50, after the game’s first 24 minutes.
“Talaga lang nung second half, wala na e. We’re really playing well when he was there pero biglang he was hurt. Pero tinry pa rin niyang makabalik, okay pa rin naman,” added the 49-year-old mentor.
Bond is set to undergo an MRI tomorrow to know the extent of his injury.
