PBA ball club Meralco Bolts are set to carry the Philippine flag in the 2018 FIBA Asia Champions Cup to be held in Nonthaburi, Thailand from September 27 to October 2.
The news was first reported by Gerry Ramos of Spin.ph on Sunday afternoon.
The report said that it was the PBA’s Board of Governors who agreed to send the Orangemen to the week-long tournament. The board is currently in Las Vegas for their annual planning session.
The San Miguel Beermen were the team originally enlisted by FIBA for the showpiece, but SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua himself said that they were not approached by FIBA for this.
With this development, the Bolts’ September 28 match against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City will now be adjusted to a later date.
The Bolts will face the likes of Alvark Tokyo of Japan; the Liaoning Leopards of China, SK Knights of Korea, Al Riyadi team of Lebanon, Pauian of Chinese Taipei, and Petrochimi of Iran.
Established Thai ball club Mono Vampire will also stand in Meralco’s way.
In the 2017 edition of the Champions Cup held in Chenzhou, China, it was Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas who waved the country’s flag. Reinforced by Isaiah Austin, the team finished fifth.
