Meralco Bolts end EASL campaign with loss to Seoul SK Knights

Meralco Bolts’ Anjo Caram during an EASL road game against Seoul SK Knights. –EASL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Meralco wrapped up its campaign in the East Asia Super League with a 72-62 road loss to Final Four-bound Seoul SK Knights on Wednesday at Jamsil Student’s Gymnasium.

Despite missing seven players and playing nothing but pride, the Bolts put up a fight for three quarters before the Knights took control in the final period of the match held at the South Korean capital.

Import Shonn Miller had 23 points and eight rebounds as Meralco finished group play with a 1-5 record.

READ: EASL: Meralco loses to Seoul in a heartbreaker

Miller and Alioune Tew, who posted 10 points and 21 rebounds, served as reinforcements for the shorthanded Bolts, weeks after being eliminated by the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.

The Bolts played minus Chris Newsome, Allein Maliksi, Bong Quinto, Raymond Almazan, Chris Banchero, Aaron Black and Cliff Hodge, prompting coach Luigi Trillo to give heavy minutes to his reserves.

Alvin Pasaol was Meralco’s top local scorer with 14 points.

READ: Jeremy Lin, New Taipei hand Meralco home loss in EASL

Leon Williams finished with 25 points and 19 rebounds as Seoul went 4-2 in Group B to join the New Taipei Kings in the Final Four slated next month in Cebu.

Seoul will take on Anyang Jung Kwan Jang in an all-South Korean semis while New Taipei faces Japan’s Chiba Jets in the pinnacle phase of the continental tourney at Lapu-Lapu City’s Hoops Dome on March 8.

The title game is slated two days later at the same venue.

Meralco Bolts vs Seoul SK Knights score

Seoul SK Knights (72) – Williams 25, Heo 23, Changyong 8, Oh 7, Choi 4, Kim 3, Yaung 2, Park 0, Moon 0, S. Oh 0, B. Choi 0, Seonghwan 0.

Meralco (62) – Miller 23, Pasaol 14, Tew 10, Caram 10, Rios 3, Dario 2, Jose 0, Bates 0, Jackson 0, Torres 0, Pascual 0.

Quarterscores: 14-13; 32-30; 49-48; 72-62.