Meralco, the PBA Governors’ Cup runner-up in two of the last three years, missed a golden opportunity to sharpen its form for the season-ending conference after being denied a slot in the Fiba Asia Champions Cup at the last minute.
The Bolts were replaced by Lebanese club Al Riyadi after the league’s sudden change in tournament direction.
Fiba reportedly wanted champion teams to figure in the meet slated for Sept. 24 through 29 in Bangkok, Thailand.
While Meralco is staying put, San Miguel Beer, Blackwater and TNT flew to Macau to take part in the Terrific 12 tournament that kicks off Tuesday at the Tap Seac Multi-Sports Pavilion.
Each team is allowed to field two imports for the event annually organized by Asia League Limited.
The PBA grand slam-seeking Beermen, reinforced by Desmine Wells and Lester Prosper and five-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, see action in the 7 p.m. main game on opening day as they battle the Shenshen Aviators.
Blackwater opens hostilities at 3 p.m. when it goes up against two-time KBL champion Seoul SK Knights. The Elite will have Marqus Blakely and Alex Stepheson for imports.
Bannered by former NBA player KJ McDaniels and one-time Mighty Sports reinforcement McKenzie Moore, the Katropa will have their hands full against title contender Liaoning Flying Leopards.
The Leopards, former CBA champions, are led by Chinese national team members Guo Ailun and Zhao Jewel and will be powered by two former NBA players in Lance Stephenson and Salah Mejri.
“What happened was out of our control. That’s under the control of Fiba and our SBP. [Now] we just have to [reorganize] and focus our attention on the PBA,” Meralco coach Norman Black said.
The Governors’ Cup opens on Sept. 20.