By Jonas Terrado
Games Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
4:30 p.m. – NLEX vs TNT KaTropa
7 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs San Miguel
Ranidel de Ocampo could make his return for the Meralco Bolts last night against the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok in Cagayan de Oro City after missing the last four months with a calf tear.
Bolts team manager Paolo Trillo confirmed yesterday that De Ocampo was expected to be in uniform for the Petron Saturday Special game with the Hotshots, with the decision rests on coach Norman Black whether he’ll see some significant playing time.
De Ocampo was activated last Thursday as Meralco sorely needed his presence after the hustling Cliff Hodge was ruled out for the remainder of the conference with a Grade 2 MCL sprain.
Hodge sustained the injury last Feb. 14 in the Bolts’ 92-90 victory over the Phoenix Fuel Masters at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Black had said that De Ocampo’s return will depend on whether Meralco would remain in contention for a quarterfinals berth. The Bolts entered last night’s game having won their last two games, including Sunday’s 84-82 upset of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Meralco entered the match with a 4-6 record, needing to upset Magnolia to stay in quarterfinal contention. Otherwise, it will mark the third straight time that the Bolts will miss the playoffs of the all-Filipino tournament.
De Ocampo hasn’t seen action since Game 3 of last season’s Governors’ Cup finals against Ginebra last October.
Meanwhile, Meralco has already made early preparations for the Commissioner’s Cup by tapping Arinze Onuaku, who two years won the Best Import award for the Bolts.
Trillo said Onuaku is expected to arrive on April 1 to begin preparation for Meralco as it hopes to continue the trend of being successful in import-flavored conferences.
