MERALCO won't be able to complete an unfinished business in the Fiba Asia Champions Cup.
The Bolts were replaced by Lebanese Basketball League powerhouse Al Riyadi at the last minute as Fiba opted to have champion ballclubs compete in the Sept. 24 to 29 meet in Thailand.
Meralco coach Norman Black confirmed the development on Sunday.
"Yes we were told we're not going to Thailand," said the champion mentor.
The Bolts represented the country to the same tournament last year, where following a slow start, the team still made it to the semifinals before losing to Petrochimi Bandar Imam of Iran. Meralco went on to lose in the battle for the bronze against Seoul SK Knights.
After getting the go-signal again from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to compete in the annual meet, the Bolts appeared ready to compete for the championship behind a retool roster that now has big man Raymund Almazan and rookie young guns Trevis Jackson and Bong Quinto.
In addition, two-time Best Import Allen Durham will partnered with former NBA player Renaldo Balkman.
But tournament organizers decided to go the different path this year and wanted to have either reigning PBA Commissioner’s Cup champion San Miguel Beer or runner-up TnT Katropa to be the country’s official representative in the meet.
Unfortunately, the Beermen and Katropa – along with the Blackwater Elite – have long been committed to see action in the East Asia League Terrific 12 in Macau starting Sept. 17 and which also features champion club teams from around the region.
Text messages by SPIN.ph to SBP hierarchy have yet been replied as of posting time.
With Al-Riyadi taking over the spot of Meralco, the tournament won’t be having a Philippine team seeing action in the meet the Filipinos have ruled four times in the past.
Al-Riyadi is a two-time champion of the event and last won it in 2017 in Chenzhou, China.
The Lebanese ballclubs completes the eight-team field that also includes Alvar Tokyo (Japan), Hitech Bangkok City (Thailand), Hyundai Mobis (South Korea), Guangdong Southern Tigers (China), Fubon Braves (Taipei), Al Muharraq (Bahrain), and Palayesh Naft Abadan (Iran).
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