Meralco’s fate in the recent FIBA Asia Champions Cup in Nonthaburi, Thailand, was doomed from the start. “The PBA was in-season so we decided to volunteer Meralco so as not to disrupt the PBA schedule,” said SBP president and Meralco PBA governor Al Panlilio. Stone, who played for the US at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Cup, arrived in Bangkok one day before Meralco’s debut against Mono Vampire of Thailand last Sept. 27. Panlilio appealed the FIBA Asia disqualification, arguing that the eligibility rules for club competitions are different from tournaments involving national teams. But FIBA Asia executive director Hagop Khajirian of Lebanon never sought clarification from FIBA administrator and development director Zoran Radovic.

Source: Philippine Star October 03, 2018 15:33 UTC