MANILA – After facing each other in the 2019 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals, titlist San Miguel Beermen and TNT KaTropa are set to compete in the East Asia Super League Terrific 12 from Sept. 17 to 22 in Macau.
The Beermen is bracketed with Ryukyu Golden Kings and Shenzhen Aviators in Group B while the KaTropa is in Group D along with Liaoning Flying Leopards and Niigata Albirex Basketball.
The Beermen will begin its campaign against the Aviators at 7 p.m. on Sept. 17 and the Kings at 7 p.m. on Sept. 19.
The KaTropa will battle the Leopards at 9 p.m. on Sept. 17 and Niigata at 3 p.m. on Sept. 19.
The Beermen is set to parade its PBA Governors’ Cup import Dez Wells along with veterans Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross, Terrence Romeo, Christian Standhardinger, Arwind Santos, Matthew Ganuelas-Rosser, Kelly Nabong, and Von Pessumal.
Five-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo is unlikely to play; he just came from Gilas Pilipinas’ stint in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.
Marcio Lassiter, on the other hand, is still nursing injury.
The KaTropa will have import KJ McDaniels, Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes, Yousef Taha, Anthony Washington, Celedonio Trollano, Brian Heruela, Ilonggo Ken Bonom and David Semerad.
Just like Fajardo, Jeth Troy Rosario and Roger Pogoy could also sit out the tournament after their Gilas stint while Anthony Semerad and Kelly Williams are still doubtful due to injuries.
Blackwater Elite, which competed in last year’s Super 8 tournament in Macau, will be the third PBA squad in the competition as it joins Group A with Chiba Jets and Seoul SK Knights. The Elite will first battle Knights at 3 p.m. on Sept. 17 and Jets at 5 p.m. on Sept. 18./PN
