MERALCO replaced National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran Shabazz Muhammad with Panamanian standout Tony Bishop as the Bolts’ import in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup that is due to start later this month.
Muhammad had to attend to pressing family matters and won’t be able to fly in early enough.
“Shabazz Muhammad will not come because of a family emergency. In fact, he already had his visa secured but due to unforeseen circumstances, he won’t make it in time,” Meralco team manager Paolo Trillo told BusinessMirror on Sunday. “Mr. Bishop is now processing his visa and vaccination cards, among other requirements.”
Muhammad, 29, played for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks from 2013 to 2018. His replacement, 6-foot-6 Bishop, played for the Panamanian national and in several American and European leagues.
Meralco coach Norman Black also told BusinessMirror that they have considered Bishop, a 32-year-old NBA G League veteran, before Muhammad.
“We can’t wait for him [Muhammad] any longer so we have to find a replacement,” Black said. “We are just a little bit lucky that he [Bishop] is still available for us.”
Bishop played recently for the Mets de Guaynabo in the Puerto Rican league Baloncesto Superior Nacional where he averaged 19.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season.
He is expected to arrive on Wednesday.
Already in town are NorthPort’s Cameron Forte, Magnolia’s Mike Harris, San Miguel Beer’s Brandon Brown, NLEX’s KJ McDaniels, Terrafirma’s Antonio Hester, TNT Tropang Giga’s McKenzie Moore, Phoenix’s Paul Harris and Alaska’s Olu Ashaolu.
Blackwater’s Jaylen Bond was expected on Sunday night, while Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s Justin Brownlee and Rain or Shine’s Henry Walker are coming in on Wednesday.