By JONAS TERRADO
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial is open to the prospect of seeing the pro league field teams in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup on a regular basis after the ice was broken with the Meralco Bolts’ participation in the club tournament that concluded Tuesday night in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
The Bolts settled for fourth in this year’s Champions Cup after making the semifinals the hard way with an unexpected rout of 2017 champion Al-Riyadi of Lebanon after coming close to beating Iran’s Petrochimi in the semifinals and South Korea’s SK Knights in a battle for third place.
Marcial said multiple factors will have to play in order for the PBA to have an active participation in the FIBA competition composed of some of Asia’s champion clubs.
“We don’t see any problem as long as the (PBA Board of) Governors agree, the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) makes a request and if we can be able to adjust our schedule,” Marcial said.
Meralco became the first PBA team to join the Champions Cup after past editions witnessed the Philippines sending either national teams, commercial clubs from the amateur ranks or hastily-formed squads.
As part of the deal, the PBA allowed the rescheduling of their supposed Sept. 28 game against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to give way to their Champions Cup campaign.
But the Bolts had to deal with multiple problems before the tournament began when Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge were ruled ineligible to play as locals due to FIBA’s strict rule on passport requirements.
The team also scrambled to sign Diamond Stone in the last minute after 7-foot-2 Canadian Liam McMorrow went down with a knee injury before traveling to Thailand.
Meralco is one of four teams that accepted international stints during the current PBA season.
Blackwater and NLEX participated in the Summer Super 8 tourney last July in Macau, the latter coached by Yeng Guiao placing fourth and the former almost reaching the semis.
