September 20, 2018

Meralco makes Champions Cup debut against Thailand's Mono Vampire

Meralco coach Norman Black is hoping to find a solution to the problems his team is likely to encounter in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup set Sept. 27 to Oct. 2.

The Bolts are expected to miss Ranidel de Ocampo and Jared Dillinger to injuries while Fil-American Chris Newsome is awaiting word on whether he'll be allowed by FIBA to play as a local player in the tournament composed of some of Asia's premier clubs.

"We're going up against championship teams there so we need Liam McMorrow, we need Allen Durham to play a lot better than he's playing right now in the PBA. And of course, we need all of our locals to step up too," Black said after Meralco fell 96-86 to Phoenix last Wednesday.

McMorrow, the 7-foot-1 Canadian who played for Barako Bull in the 2015 Commissioner's Cup, was signed as a second import to team up with Durham.

Meralco is bracketed n Group B together with Lebanon's Al Rayadi, Japan's Alvark Tokyo and Thailand's Mono Vampire. The top two teams advance to the crossover semifinals.

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De Ocampo is nursing a left calf injury and is expected to return by the time Meralco resumes its Governors' Cup campaign on Oct. 5 against Blackwater.

Dillinger, on the other hand, has yet to play this conference because of a thigh problem.
Meralco is scheduled to begin preparation for the Champions Cup on Friday with plans to play at least one tune-up game with McMorrow.

The Bolts make their debut on Sept. 27 against Mono Vampire, before taking on Alvark on the 28th and Al Rayyan on the 29th.(JT)