Meralco to size up Panamanian hire vs Busan

Meralco hosts Busan KCC Egis in an East Asia Super League (EASL) clash on Wednesday night, eager to use the match as some form of an advantage for the Bolts heading into the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

“The one thing that teams suffer from is that they normally get imports the last week before a new conference starts. The EASL has allowed us to take a look at guys who can be imports in the PBA,” head coach Luigi Trillo told the Inquirer on the eve of the homestand that tips off 8:10 p.m. at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Meralco has done just exactly that and will be unveiling on Wednesday night Akil Mitchell, a Panamanian standout who is also set to serve as the Bolts’ import in the next PBA conference which unfurls Nov. 27.

Trillo said that Mitchell can play defense as well as Su Braimoh, Meralco’s import who steered the Bolts to a 4-1 record in the last Commissioner’s Cup before going down with an achilles injury.

“Su’s a specialist in the perimeter. Akil’s more of an undersized five. And at four or five, he’s athletic. He can move, face the basket, pivot and post up (opponents) while running the floor very well. His defense is at par with Su’s,” the champion coach said.

Wary of visitors

“Though I think we’re fortunate to get Akil now because he’s still in his prime at 32 (years old.) We had Su a little bit older at 34, 35,” Trillo went on. “We’re excited for him because he can also play pick-and-roll defense and is a motor guy like Cliff (Hodge).

As high as he is on his new reinforcement, Trillo said the 1-1 (win-loss) Bolts are wary of the test that the breakthrough-seeking visitors will pose as they are the champions of the Korean Basketball League after all.

“They are not as big as Macau,” he said, referring to the Black Bears whom his charges handily beat back on their home turf back in October.

“[Busan KCC] is more small-ball [with] this one big [man] … [and] they play a bit like Ginebra where they break you down towards the end.”