MERALCO earned the right to represent the country in the coming Basketball Champions League Asia as the reigning PBA Philippine Cup champion.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said the PBA, in coordination with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, made the approval for the Bolts to see action in the June 9-15 meet formerly known as the FIBA Asia Champions League.
Marcial said he had prior talks with Meralco Board of Governor, Atty. Bill Pamintuan and team manager Paolo Trillo about the matter, and had a separate meeting with SBP Secretary General Erika Dy as well.
This will be the second time the Bolts will carry the PBA banner in an international meet following their back-to-back stints in the East Asia Super League Home and Away tournaments.
As things stand, the league will have to revise the remaining schedule of the All-Filipino Cup eliminations so as not to hinder Meralco's campaign in the week-long event.
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The eliminations will run until June 15 and the playoffs tentatively set to start by June 18.
"So ia-adjust namin yung Philippine Cup schedule para dito," said Marcial. "Kaya nagpapa-salamat ang PBA at ang PBA Board sa Meralco na magre-represent sa atin."
Marcial added a zoom meeting with all team managers was held on Monday to notify them about the impending change in schedule.
"Nag-meeting na si Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro with the team managers na ia-adjust nga natin yung schedule dahil nga sa Basketball Champions League. Sumang-ayon naman lahat sila," said the commissioner.
"Kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa Meralco dahil sila nga ang kakatawan sa PBA, at nagpapasalamat kami sa mga teams na naintindihan naman nila yung sitwasyon."
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Marcial added the Bolts will be tapping the services of two imports for BCL Asia.
First established in 1981, the tournament was cancelled during the pandemic years and only returned last year under the new name and setup. (RG)
