Meralco to represent PBA in BCL Asia

Meralco returns to BCL Asia after seven years. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Meralco will be the Philippine representative to the Basketball Champions League Asia.

The agreement was announced on Monday after PBA commissioner Willie Marcial met with Meralco governor Bill Pamintuan, team manager Paolo Trillo, and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy to formalize the Bolts' participation in the tournament formerly known as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.

Meralco last played in BCL Asia in 2018, where the team finished fourth, and the team will return by virtue of being the defending PBA Philippine Cup champion.

To give the Bolts room to prepare for BCL Asia, the league proposed to all the team managers in a virtual meeting on Monday to have a revision of the remaining schedule for the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup, which the said team officials approved.

BCL Asia is scheduled from June 9-15, which will coincide with Meralco's last two games in the elimination round.

The Bolts are to play the Magnola Hotshots on June 8 and Barangay Ginebra on June 15, the last playdate of the elims.

"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," Marcial said.

"Kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa Meralco dahil sila nga ang kakatawan sa PBA, at nagpapasalamat kami sa mga teams na naintindihan naman nila yung sitwasyon."

Due to scheduling conflicts, the PBA begged off from joining BCL Asia's comeback edition in 2024, promising that the league would participate this year, which it fulfilled by tapping the Bolts.

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