MERALCO may end up losing its first win in the East Asia Super League (EASL) following a protest filed by the Taoyuan Pilots in the aftermath of the Bolts’ 85-76 win over the Taiwanese side during their rematch on Saturday night in Ilagan, Isabela.
The Pilots immediately filed the protest at the end of the game, citing Meralco played four imports during one stretch in the second quarter, which they claimed was in violation of the FIBA rules of the home-and-away regional league of allowing only two imports at the same time.
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo took the high road and said it will abide by the decision of the EASL, saying it had no intention to cheat as it plays the game with pride and honor.
READ Meralco takes first EASL win behind Asian import Sina Vahedi
“We played with honor, we’re good soldiers,” noted Trillo, who acts as head deputy to Nenad Vucinic in the league’s Home and Away Season 3. “Reputation-wise, we’re one of the most honorable teams (in the PBA)."
Shortly after the game at the Capital Arena, the Pilots put the outcome under protest. Pilots' coach Lurgi Caminos pointed out that Meralco played four imports at the same time during the second quarter, which he said breached the FIBA rule.
“In the second quarter, four import players played together on the floor, two more players than allowed by FIBA rules,” the coach from San Sebastian, Spain told local reporters prior to leaving for Taipei.
Meralco had imports Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Ismael Romero, along with naturalized player Ange Kouame, and Asia import Sina Vahedi of Iran in the team.
It appears that while other teams were well aware of the FIBA rules, Meralco had trouble using the right number of imports, saying it was not very familiar with the rules.
He admitted though that the team indeed had four imports in one quarter.
But at the same time, Trillo said EASL rules allow teams to field in two locals at the same time, which qualified the presence of Kouame inside the court since as naturalized player, the former UAAP MVP out of Ateneo is considered a local.
“It was an honest mistake,” he said.
“But Taoyuan could have pointed that out right there and then and we could have been assessed with a technical. There was a deputy commissioner on the court and it was up (to him) to sanction us during the game.
"The most is a technical foul (against Meralco) at the start of the third quarter."
That being said, Trillo believes the protest won't prosper.
But the Meralco official said the organization has no problem with the Pilots filing a protest, saying it's their right to make the move.
“I told him (Caminos) you have the right to put the game under protest,” said Trillo.
“But our ballclub plays with honor, and we follow the rules given by the EASL on us.”
Trillo likewise questioned Taoyuan having the benefit of four imports.
Alec Brown and Sedric Millners serve as the Pilots' import, with William Artino serving as their naturalized player.
But Amdy Dieng, who is listed as the Asian import, isn't from Asia at all as the 27-year-old player is actually from Senegal.
The win, its first game at home, was the first in three outings for Meralco, while dealing Taoyuan its first loss after winning its first two outings at home.
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