MANILA – Negrense center Siverino “Nonoy” Baclao reunited again with his collegiate head coach Norman Black after agreeing to a free-agent contract with Meralco Bolts of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
The Bacolod City-native Baclao – top pick in the 2010 PBA Draft by Air 21 Express (defunct), joined Meralco after he was not handed out an extension by the Alaska Aces.
Baclao’s first partnership with Black
was in Ateneo. The latter recruited him from STI-West Negros University.
The two produced two University Athletic Association of the Philippines championships
along with Nicholas Salva, who is also a Bolts cager.
The Negrense and the coach were also under a single banner in 2013 when the
former was traded to Talk ‘N Text.
Baclao, 32, joined the growing list of Meralco ballers who trace their roots in
this region aside from Negrenses Reynel Hugnatan, Raymar Jose and Ilonggo Anjo
Caram.
The 6-foot-5 Bacolodnon, however, will have to spend his time in sidelines of the team first since he is still recovering from his right patellar tendon injury he sustained while playing for the Alaska in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Meralco is Baclao’s sixth PBA team. He also played for teams Petron Blaze Boosters (now San Miguel Beermen), where he won his lone championship, and NorthPort Batang Pier./PN
