Apr 28, 2021

Black sees Pasaol as an impact player for Meralco

MERALCO coach Norman Black thinks Alvin Pasaol can make an outright impact in the team's Philippine Cup campaign for the PBA 46th season.

The veteran coach stressed people 'don't see too many guys who comes along like Pasaol,' that makes the Bolts lucky enough for them to pick him at no. 9 overall in the last rookie draft.

While he has yet to see the burly former University of the East star play in 5-on-5 scrimmages, Black is nonetheless thrilled at having Pasaol at his disposal.

"I know what he can do," Black told former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala in a recent episode of the weekly radio program Power & Play.

"Natural scorer. Natural confidence. I'm not saying the game is easy for him, but at the same time, he knows he's a good player. He knows he can score the basketball and he has the confidence that he can do that."

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The arrival of Pasaol further added depth to a once fragile Meralco frontcourt that now has the likes of Raymond Almazan, Mac Belo, and old hands Cliff Hodge, and Reynel Hugnatan.

The 6-foot-2 Pasaol just practiced for three weeks with the Bolts prior to the suspension of cluster workouts, but Black is aware of what the rookie is capable of doing, having closely monitored his career as a dominant scorer in college and in other amateur tournaments, including 3x3 meets.

"But the thing about him I like the most is he's a physical scorer. In other words, he can take contact and still score. He looks for contact," said the 63-year-old mentor.

In the case of Pasaol, looks can also be deceiving, according to Black, who estimates his prized rookie to be around 230 pounds.

"At the same time, when he has the basketball on a fast break, he's the fastest guy on the court," he said. "So how can you explain the talent, it doesn't seem to contradict."

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Prior to the interruption of group practices, Meralco already signed Pasaol to a two-year contract. (RG)