Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome during a PBA Philippine Cup game against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Meralco will take on B.League champion Utsunomiya Brex and Shabab Al-Ahli of host United Arab Emirates in Group B of the Basketball Champions League Asia slated June 7 to 13 in Dubai.
The Bolts found out their grouping in Saturday’s draw of the competition where they’ll compete in the continental club tournament as PBA representative.
READ:PBA: No rest for weary as Meralco, Newsome gear up for Dubai tilt
Chinese Basketball Association winner Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, Iran’s Tabiat Basketball and Mongolia’s Broncos are in Group A while West Asia Super League titlist Al Riyadi of Lebanon, Korean Basketball League champion LG Sakers and Taiwan’s Taoyuan Pilots are in Group C.
The eight best teams based on their overall point difference will advance to the quarterfinals.
Meralco was chosen to carry the PBA banner by virtue of being the defending champion of last season’s Philippine Cup.
READ: Sans Cliff Hodge, Meralco clobbers Blackwater to end skid
The selection came in the middle of the ongoing Philippine Cup eliminations, with the league actually making significant revisions to the schedule in order for the Bolts to finish the elims before heading to the BCL campaign.
Meralco ended the elims at 6-5 and assured of a playoff spot after defeating Barangay Ginebra, 82-73, on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Coach Luigi Trillo had earlier said that the Bolts plan to maximize the rule of tapping three imports for the tourney.
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