DAMIAN Chongqui will play for Macau - the EASL team that is.
The speedy 5-foot-8 Chinese-American guard who has gained a following in the Philippines recently signed with the Hou Chon Macau team that will be playing in the EASL, the ballclub and the league recently announced.
The Hou Chon squad is apparently a different entity from the Macau squad that is currently playing in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup and is on a break to give way to Gilas Pilipinas’ participation in the 20th Asian Games.
Hou Chon has also signed Phoenix Shackleford, who also played in the PBA last conference in the Commissioner’s Cup with the Macau Black Knights, the previous name of the Giant Pandas team.
It appears that Chongqui’s stint with the PBA’s Giant Pandas has now ended after signing with Hou Chon, who will play in the EASL opener against the Taipei Fubon Braves on October 3 at the SM Seaside Arena.
No announcement has been made by the team but word is that to expect one in the coming days regarding the team’s composition.
Chongqui averaged 22.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.0 steals in the Governors’ Cup, his second conference in the PBA. - Reuben Terrado
Schedule conundrum for the PBA
THE PBA opted to reschedule its postponed Governors’ Cup doubleheader last August 9 for late October when the season-ending conference resumes its eliminations after the FIBA window and the 20th Asian Games.
Sources told SPIN.ph the league could have staged the games right after its final scheduled playdate (August 14) prior to the long break, or, to be more specific, on August 16 which fell on a Sunday.
But apparently, the four teams involved namely, Rain or Shine, Phoenix, Blackwater, and Barangay Ginebra all turned down the suggested playdate as they won’t have the benefit of playing with complete rosters.
“Dahil expecting yung mga players sa long break, karamihan sa kanila nag-schedule na ng bakasyon, out of town, out of the country. Yung mga import din, halos lahat umuwi muna ng US for the break,” a PBA insider related.
Ginebra for one, would've extended Riley Grigsby’s stay and contract as he was already booked to leave for the US shortly after the Kings’ final game against Meralco last August 14.
And Phoenix? The Fuel Masters could have missed the services of coach Charles Tiu had the twinbill pushed through on the 16th as he was already with the Strong Group Athletics in Chinese Taipei by then for the 2026 Jones Cup.
“So walang choice talaga kundi i-move na lang 'yung games after the break,” added the source.
Both games will now be played at the end of the eliminations on Oct. 23 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, with Rain or Shine playing Phoenix in the curtain raiser and Barangay Ginebra taking on Blackwater in the main game.
That concludes a week-long stretch where all games will be played in Antipolo from Oct. 16-23. - Gerry Ramos
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