MERALCO is out to pass the first big hurdle in its drive to rule a prestigious continental club tourney.
The Bolts clash with Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos tonight in the quarterfinals of the Basketball Champions League Asia at the posh Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
The game is set at 7 p.m. The drawing of lots took place last Monday during a break in the week-long meet and at the end of the group play.
The Last Eight cast was finalized based on the aggregate rankings between the three groups after the pool phase.
Korean Basketball League titlist Changwon LG Sakers was the only crew ousted from the nine-team field.
Meralco, the reigning PBA Philippine Cup champion, drew big games from both the locals and the imports the last time out.
Bolts active consultant Nenad Vucinic, who is calling the shots for the team in the tilt formerly known as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, wants that trend to continue.
“We just go to what the defense gives us and they were really trying to double team. Our point guard (Glynn) Watson was making decisions and once the ball got to Jordon (Varnado), he was looking at where the hell it comes from and making right passes,” Vucinic said in the aftermath of their 97-86 victory over Japan’s Utsunomiya Brex last Sunday night.
“So, that’s why it maybe looked like the locals were more involved but I think it’s the same way as we played before,” he added.
Tabiat and Utsunomiya Brex tangle to open shop the knockout round, followed by the Meralco-Ulaanbaatar tiff, the showdown between host Shabab Al Ahli and Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, and defending champion Al Riyadi against the Zhejiang Lions.
Ulaanbaatar also wound up with a 1-1 slate in Group A after an 84-67 rout of the Lions but dropped a 76-78 loss to Tabiat.
The victor of the Bolts-Broncos duel will take on the survivor of the Tabiat-Utsunomiya match.
The semifinals are set for tomorrow, and the one-game final will be played on Friday.
The champion gets the right to represent Asia in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup later this year in Singapore.
