Meralco will open the new East Asia Super League season on October 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Meralco is bringing in Ange Kouame and DJ Kennedy for the new East Asia Super League (EASL) season which unfurls in October.
Bolts head coach Luigi Trillo confirmed this on Thursday night, Sept. 12.
The two will join Allen Durham in reinforcing the PBA Philippine Cup champions in the regional league during their opening game on October 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
[RELATED STORY: PBA champions San Miguel, Meralco open new EASL season at MOA Arena in October]
Kouame will be Meralco's naturalized player while Kennedy and Durham will serve as imports.
Kouame, who first endeared himself to Filipino fans after helping Ateneo win three UAAP championships, joined the squad in practice on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Kennedy is a well-travelled cager out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who Trillo looks to rely on when the Bolts need some buckets.
Trillo explained that they are also allowed to tap an Asian import in the home-and-away season, but they are not looking to add one.
“I think DJ is arriving tomorrow. He’s versatile. He plays 1 to 4 (positions). [He is] a high-level guy, played all over Europe. He’s a weapon for us,” said Trillo after Meralco suffered a 99-108 loss to erstwhile co-Group A leader TNT in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.
“AD (Durham) is going to be there. And then Ange Kouame is our naturalized.”
With the EASL games happening in the thick of the ongoing Governors’ Cup playoffs, having the trio at his disposal would probably work wonders for the Bolts.
“Those three will be able to help us with minutes,” Trillo said.
“Ange is a 5 (position). AD can play 5, 4, and 3. DJ can play 1, 2, 3, 4. Excited to get those guys in the mix with our guys also,” he added.
Meralco will kick off their EASL campaign on Oct. 2 against the Macau Black Bears at 8 p.m., while San Miguel will open the double-header opposite 2024 Korean Basketball League runner-up Suwon KT Sonicboom two hours earlier.