Basketball
Meralco flies in ex-Red Bull import Barron as standby reinforcement
Former Red Bull reinforcement Earl Barron arrived on Monday to serve as standby import for the Meralco Bolts in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
This was relayed by Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio in a text message to InterAKTV.
Barron played for Red Bull in the 2004-05 Fiesta Conference. He is coming off a stint with the Golden State Warriors, who waived him two weeks ago.
An NBA veteran, the seven-foot center played for the Miami Heat for three seasons. He also had stints with the New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, and Portland Trail Blazers.
Barron was being eyed by Rain or Shine prior to the start of the season, having been coached by the Elasto Painters’ Yeng Guiao at Red Bull. But Rain or Shine assistant Caloy Garcia said Barron wasn’t available when the team was searching for a reinforcement.
Meralco team manager Virgil Villavicencio said there’s no decision yet whether the squad will suit up Barron as their import in the Bolts’ next game on Sunday or stick it out with Jarrid Famous.
Despite impressive performances from Famous, the Bolts have lost two of their first three games.
Barron is the third import prospect for Meralco this conference. The team initially signed up another NBA veteran, Jelani McCoy, who was cut before the start of the tournament.
