Meralco Brings In seven-foot, Euro Cup champ Jones
Just when the issue on Ismael Romero was about to wind down, the Meralco Bolts decided to defer plans on bringing their East Asia Super League import in the upcoming PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Instead, the Bolts are bringing in FIBA Euro Cup champion Marvin Jones who becomes the latest seven-foot import to see action in the Commissioner’s Cup.
This latest development was confirmed by Bolts team manager Paolo Trillo to All-Star Magazine.
Listed seven feet, Jones was one of those classic examples of players who were left undrafted in the NBA but able to make a good career in the European circuit.
He will be the latest seven-foot reinforcement set to play in the Commissioner’s Cup, joining the highly-advertised, former NBA player Bol Bol of TNT (7-3), Kylor Kelley of Converge (7-0) and the tallest among the imports, Sam Deguara from guest team Macau Black Bears (7-6)
Jones last suited up for PAOK Thessaloniki, a Greek club, which he helped in winning the Euro Cup last year against Bilbao.
Known for his defense during college, he became a two-way player in the pros. The 32-year-old center averaged close to nine points per game while playing 20 minutes for PAOK.
Trillo confirmed that the Bolts management and Romero had decided to settle amicably.
“We felt that this is not the right time to do it since he also went back in Puerto Rico,” said Trillo in a telephone interview.
The controversial Romero found himself in hot water after he kicked former PBA player Nick Demusis, then playing for the Zamboanga Valientes, during the Dubai International Basketball Tournament last month.
Romero helped the Bolts in their best ever finish in the just concluded East Asia Super League while serving as one of the four reinforcements of the squad and playing along Barangay Ginebra resident import Justin Brownlee, Iranian national team mainstay Sina Vahedi, considered the best point guard in Asia today, and three-time PBA Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, whose spot was taken over by current NLEX reinforcement Cady Lalane.
