The Meralco Bolts’ task of representing the flag and country in the upcoming 2018 FIBA Asia Champions Cup just got even tougher following the injuries of its two key players in Ranidel De Ocampo and Jared Dillinger.
De Ocampo had a slight tear in his left calf which sidelined him in Meralco’s recent 86-96 loss to Phoenix while Dillinger had been out for quite sometime for the Bolts with a two bone spurs removal on his right foot and a quad injury.
With this, the two veteran cagers will not be able to join Meralco in their trip to Nonthaburi, Thailand for the eight-team tourney set from September 27 to October 2.
“Nobody wants to make excuses, but obviously, two of my best players, two of my starters are not there,” said Black as the back-to-back Philippine Basketball Assoiciation (PBA) Governors’ Cup runner-up Meralco skidded to a 1-3 start.
“The bottom line is when your two really good players are missing, they’re two really good players.”
As of now, there is no timetable on the return of his two prized players, leaving Black with no choice but to troop into Thailand with a shorthanded squad.
“No, there’s no timetable on their return as frustrating as it may be for myself and the rest of the team,” he said. “ We don’t even have a timetable for their return right now. We know it won’t be within the next two weeks, which means the tournament will be over already.”
With this, Black will just lean on his healthy players left led by Chris Newsome, Baser Amer, Cliff Hodge, KG Canaleta, and two-time Best Import Allen Durham.
Completing the lineup are Simon Atkins, Jason Ballesteros, Ken Bono, Bryan Faundo, Reynel Hugnatan, Jammer Jamito, Garvo Lanete, Nico Salva, Joseph Sedurifa, and Mike Tolomia.
Good thing for the Bolts, they welcomed an added reinforcement in name of former Barako Bull import Liam McMorrow who will be pairing with Durham for a formidable import combo.
The 7-foot-2 Canadian cager already arrived in the country earlier this week and has been training with the team before their departure for Nonthaburi on September 25.
Meralco is bracketed in a rock-solid Group B of the Champions Cup alongside reigning titlist Al Riyadi of Lebanon, Alvarck Tokyo of Japan, and Mono Vampire from host Thailand.
Tapped by the PBA to fly the flag, Meralco has a mission of surpassing Chooks-to-Go—Pilipinas’ fifth place finish after a 4-3 record in the 2017 FIBA Asia Champions Cup held in China.
