BROWNLEE HAS YET TO PLAY FOR MERALCO IN EASL

MERALCO coach Luigi Trillo admitted that the Bolts are keeping their options open as far as putting a new naturalized player is concerned in their East Asia Super League Season 3 home-and-away campaign that started with back-to-back losses.

The Bolts dropped to 0-2 in the regional tournament following their 72-82 loss to host Taoyuan Pauian Pilots in Taipei last Sunday.

The team, under the coaching of Trillo and the guidance of consultant Nenad Vucinic, opened the EASL third season with an 81-72 defeat to the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Okinawa on Oct. 22.

Meralco played with reinforcements Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Ismael Romero, but their efforts still weren’t not enough against a Pilots side that played solidly to register its second straight win in the tournament.

Romero logged in solid numbers of 26 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for the Bolts, while Hollis-Jefferson had 22, eight boards, and dished off four assists in another all-around game.

“We’re waiting for Justin (Brownlee). He is our naturalized and he’s an option to play. But we have an option between him and another player who might come in, so we’re still not sure,” Trillo said during the post-game presser shortly after Meralco dropped the game against the Pilots in the Taoyuan Arena.

The 6-foot-4 Brownlee has yet to show up in Meralco’s practice and games since the beloved resident Barangay Ginebra import was loaned to the team for the EASL tournament. 

The three-time PBA Best Import has been tapped to take the naturalized player position for Meralco, but his absence remains a mystery for the team.

Trillo said the 37-year-old Brownlee would have easily contributed to the team’s cause.

“But he (Brownlee) would be a big help if he was here,” said Trillo.

While Trillo did not mention who the naturalized player is, by all indication, the Meralco mentor was basically referring to Ange Kouame, the 6-foot-11 big man, who previously suited for the Bolts in the EASL Season 2.

Meralco has time to try to integrate the 27-year-old Ivorian-Filipino slot man before returning to action on Nov. 8 in a home game against Taoyuan Pauian at the Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela.

Meralco hopes the change in scenery could help the team as it tries to register its first win in Group B.

The Bolts will try to make the most of their home games with the Macau Black Bears up next on Nov. 15, also at the Capital Arena.

2025-11-03T16:14:42Z