Jeremy Lin
Meralco tries to fan its East Asia Super League (EASL) playoff hopes and win at home for the first time when the Bolts, toughened by a back-breaking schedule during the holidays, host former New York star in the NBA Jeremy Lin and the New Taipei Kings on Wednesday at PhilSports Arena.
Game time is at 7 p.m. with the Bolts needing nothing less than a sweep of their remaining two games to have a mathematical chance at advancing to the Final Four.
The Bolts come into the game still licking the wounds of an 81-80 loss to the Seoul SK Knights exactly a week ago, dropping to the bottom with a 1-3 card. Another loss would doom them to a cellar-dwelling finish.
“We still have an outside chance. We will give it our very best on [Jan. 3]. We can beat that team if we come to play,” said coach Luigi Trillo. “We have to play at a higher level. Focus, adjust in game and react well in our next game. We will focus on this next one.”
Payback time
The Bolts have unfinished business with the unbeaten Kings after losing their first encounter at the New Taipei Xinzhuang gymnasium a month ago, 97-92.The 35-year-old Lin presided over that win with 25 points and seven assists, while import Kenny Manigault added a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds, plus six assists.
A familiar face in Hayden Blankley also contributed to the scrambling win with 15 points, including nine points from three-point range. Blankley suited up for the Bay Area Dragons that finished runner-up to Barangay Ginebra in the last Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup.The Taipei Kings, who are on top of Group B with a 2-0 record, arrived in the country on Tuesday and had their practice at PhilSports Arena shortly after.
The first game against New Taipei marked the debut of import Zach Lofton for Meralco, who top scored for 35 points including 6-of-13 from beyond the arc.
Meralco had very little time to enjoy the holidays because of commitments in the EASL and the PBA Commissioner’s Cup where it is running third.
And Trillo believes that the sacrifices are all worth it.
“Our last games were against high-level teams. Ginebra (in the PBA) and then SK. Now Taipei. Those are champion if not championship-worthy teams, so it kind of gets us sharp,” said Trillo, whose charges have a 6-2 Commissioner’s Cup mark, a strong contender for that playoff bonus in the PBA tournament.