Davao boys ready to roll for Meralco Bolts in the 2021 PBA season

 

Leon Garcia, Agdao Merlaco Bolts forward Michael Mirafuentes Cañete.Photo: Michael Mirafuentes Cañete FB account.

DAVAO CITY –-- Two professional basketball players who trace their roots here have made it to the 16-man training pool roster of the Meralco Bolts for the 2021 PBA season.

Leon Garcia, Agdao forward Michael Mirafuentes Cañete and Dona Salud, Sasa guard Alvin Pasaol are part of the training pool roster of the Bolts who are set to do their close-circuit training in Ilocos Norte soon.

Cañete was given a one-year contract extension by the team for the PBA 2021 season this year.

The Davaoeonoc cager who is set to finally make his Bolts debut this year is very happy with the trust and confidence to have given to him by the team despite his failure to suit up for them last year.

“Once you choose God everything is possible. God’s timing is the best,” Canete said in his Facebook post.

Earlier, Bolts coach American Normal Black told the media that Canete will finally make his debut for the team in the PBA 2021 season.

Black said he is excited for the PBA entry of Canete since the latter is a big man who can help the team in rebounding and defense.

The American coach said Canate is a huge boost for their frontline especially for starting center Raymond Almazan.

Although already signed as a Bolts player, Canete was not able to play for the team in the recent PBA Bubble in Clark, Pampanga won by Barangay Ginebra since Black decided to field only a veteran roster in the All Filipino Cup conference.

Canete, a former varsity player of the St. John Paul II College of Davao Saints and Arellano University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) officially signed his PBA rookie contract to play for the Bolts last March 10, 2020.

However, he was not able to play immediately for the Bolts due to his commitment to the Bacoor City Strikers in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

When the Strikers got ousted in the MPBl playoffs his desire to finally play for the Bolts did not materialize due to the suspension of the PBA due to COVID-19.

Since he was late to join the team, Black also decided not to include him in the team’s roster for the PBA Bubble tournament in the last quarter of 2020

Before signing the contract, Cañete was selected by the Bolts in the third round of the 2019 PBA Draft.

Pasaol for his part signed a two-year contract with the Bolts last March 25.

The Bolts earlier picked the 6’2 banger as the ninth overall pick in the 2021 PBA rookie draft last March 14.

Pasaol, a prolific scorer and former member of the 3×3 Chooks to Go Philippine team is set to add scoring and defense for the Bolts in the 2021 PBA season.

A former player of the University of East Red Warriors in the UAAP, Pasaol previously played for Zamboanga in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

Before making it big in Metro Manila, Pasaol played briefly in some local leagues in Davao City where he was scouted while playing in one of the commercial teams here. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)