The Meralco Bolts is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the GlobalPort Batang Pier at 4:15 P.M. on May 10, 2017 in Mall of Asia Arena.
Despite of having a 2-6 win-loss card, the Batang Pier are still focused for making to the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoff round while the Bolts looking to take advantage its situation of having its full roster for the scheduled game.
Action indeed speaks louder than words. No need to ask the coaching staff nor the GlobalPort Batang Pier office if they still want to move to the next round although its chances are slim.
Instead of focusing their effort to the upcoming third conference, Batang Pier brings in a new import and took part in the four team trade which occurred last week.
Coach Franz Pumaren’s squad added Sean Anthony, Bradwyn Guinto and Jonathan Grey to its roster plus Justin Harper who is a two-time NBA D-League All-Star.
Justin is listed at 6’10 and 225 lbs who will serve as the team’s foreign hire in replacement to Malcolm White.
This sudden move was also a bit of a concern for Meralco’s coach Norman Black.
“The game versus GlobalPort will be difficult to gauge because they have new local players and a new import,” said Black. “We will just go out and play hard and try to pick up a win.”
However, GlobalPort will still be missing the scoring and assisting services of Terrence Romeo who is sent to Gilas Pilipinas for the upcoming 2017 SEABA Championships.
Unlike the opposing team, Meralco will be in its full force led by their behemoth import Alex Stepheson. The Bolts is one of the PBA teams that has no representative for the upcoming SEABA tournament.
This game will be also an oppurtunity for Jonathan Grey to show his skills against his former team. Baser Amer is playing terrific this conference and probably one of the reasons why Grey got very limited minutes.