WITH Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone and several key players focusing on the Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the 19th Asian Games, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has tapped the Meralco Bolts to represent the country in the East Asia Super League starting next month.

Meralco will be the second PBA team in the first-ever home-and-away tournament of the EASL, joining 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup champions TNT Tropang Giga.

This will be the first time the Bolts will see action in the regional league, while the Tropang Giga represented the PBA last season along with San Miguel Beer.

The EASL 2023-24 season will involve 28 games, taking place from October 11 this year until March 10, 2024.

Based on the official groupings released by the league, the eight participating teams are divided into two groups.

Group A features Japan B.League runners-up Chiba Jets, Korean Basketball League champions Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters, P. League+ champions Taipei Fubon Braves and TNT Tropang Giga.

Group B has B.League champions Ryukyu Golden Kings, KBL runners-up Seoul SK Knights, P. League+ runners-up New Taipei Kings and the Meralco Bolts.

The eight competing teams will each play their group opponents once at home and once away.

Tip-off times for individual games will be confirmed at a later date.

The 2023-24 championship will be decided at the four-game, four-team Final Four playoff competition on March 8-10, 2024.

“Asian basketball fans have never had such a rich list of competitive fixtures between their top clubs. This schedule represents the realization of the EASL dream of a full season of competition to decide who is the best team in East Asia,” said EASL co-founder and CEO Matt Beyer in a statement.

TNT plays Japan B. League counterpart Chiba Jets in the lone opening game at the Funabashi Arena in Chiba, Japan.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya