Previously known as the East Asia Super League, Meralco now plays in the Basketball Champions League Asia.

The Bolts, the current Philippine Cup champions, will compete for the league title in the June 9–15 tournament, the PBA said on Monday.

In Season 2 of the EASL’s Home and Away tournament, the Bolts followed suit.

However, the PBA would have to make the ultimate sacrifice of changing the Philippine Cup schedule to accommodate Meralco’s campaign if the Bolts are to play in what was once known as the FIBA Asia Champions League.

The revised schedule will be revealed within a week, according to Commissioner Willie Marcial.

On June 15, the All-Filipino Cup eliminations will come to a close.

Ironically, Meralco had originally planned to play Barangay Ginebra on that same date at the Ynares Center in Antipolo as part of a doubleheader, with NLEX taking on Converge as the curtain raiser.

To apprise them of the upcoming modifications to the league schedule, all PBA team managers met on Monday.

The competition, which was first held in 1981, was postponed for three years owing to the epidemic and only resumed last year with a new format and name.

However, the PBA did not take part in its 2024 relaunch since it had a busy schedule the previous year due to co-hosting the FIBA World Cup.

The Philippines has won four championships in its history: Northern Consolidated in 1984, Swift-PABL in 1988, Andok’s in 1995, and Hapee Toothpaste in 1996.

Ironically, Meralco was the final Philippine team to represent their nation and flag at the event in 2018, where they lost to the SK Knights in the bronze-winning match.

Converge recently signed a new contract with one of the two surviving members of the former Alaska franchise.

After his previous contract expired last month, the FiberXers signed veteran forward Kevin Racal to a new one.
According to sources, the new deal, which is not an extension, is valid for one season.

Two former Alaskan players, including Racal, 33, are still with Converge after the company purchased the multi-titled franchise three years ago.

Alec Stockton is the other.

Converge was represented by coach Franco Atienza and alternate governor CK Kanapi-Daniolco, while Racal signed the new deal with his agent, Danny Espiritu.

Racal was the oldest player on the very youthful FiberXers squad until Jackson Corpuz joined them for the current PBA Philippine Cup.

However, having been selected by Alaska (No. 11 overall) in the first round of the 2015 draft, he is currently in his tenth season in the league, giving him the most playing years.

Despite playing in the Finals three times with the Aces, he never won the championship.

However, in 2015, under previous coach Aldin Ayo, Racal and Letran won an NCAA men’s basketball title.