With preseason done, Meralco to go ‘soul-searching’ ahead of PBA Draft

Meralco Bolts coach Luigi Trillo. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—With the PBA on Tour over, Meralco sets its eyes on the next stop before PBA Season 48: The Draft.

Coach Luigi Trillo admitted that before they could even think of who to pick in the first round of September’s draft, the Bolts will have to do some “soul-searching.”

“We know the draft is coming up… for us we have to do some soul-searching. We have the eighth pick. This is a chance for us to really evaluate the players and even us, the coaching staff, we’ll try to improve ourselves too,” told Trillo after their win over Rain or Shine at Ynares Sports Center, Pasig, on Friday.

The Bolts finished fourth in last season’s Governors’ Cup tournament with a 7-4 record before posting the same mark in the preseason.

“I hope in the draft, someone good comes here and new blood is always good.”

The need for young players is the key objective for Trillo come September 15 with its main cogs like Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge not getting any younger. Newsome, the Bolts’ top scorer, is already 33 years old while Hodge is 35.

“We’ve been in the Finals but I noticed that we need to get younger. The other teams are getting younger so hopefully we get, not just an import soon but we also have to reassess how we can get some other players,” the top coach said.

Import watch

With the upcoming season starting with the import-laced Commissioner’s Cup, Meralco has yet to zero in on a potential reinforcement.

“The problem is there are lots of offers with the other imports we have in mind,” said Trillo.

The Bolts may still have some time to scout for possible imports but Trillo admitted that they have to move quickly with other leagues looking as well.

Last season, KJ McDaniels powered Meralco in the Commissioner’s Cup as well as the Governors’ Cup.

“We have a couple of guys [in mind] but we have to start signing any of them soon because China, Japan and Korea are looking (for players) so this is the time to get them.”

Trillo did not disclose any names with regard to Meralco’s import options.

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