After shock defeat, Bolts need sweep to advance

Meralco Bolts celebrate a win over KBL’s Busan KCC Egis in the EASL. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Meralco’s goal of becoming the first PBA team to qualify for the Final Four of the East Asia Super League (EASL) may have to go through the wringer after squandering a big lead in Wednesday’s road loss to Busan KCC Egis.

The 72-68 setback in South Korea, despite the Bolts being up by double digits, sent Meralco down to an even 2-2 record in Group B, with Japan’s B.League outfit Ryukyu Golden Kings and Taiwan’s P.League+ champion New Taipei Kings next on the slate in 2025.

“I think we have a good chance,” coach Luigi Trillo said prior to facing the reigning Korean Basketball League titleholder. “If you win two out of three, I think automatically there will be a PBA team in the semis for the first time.”

The Bolts will host Ryukyu on Jan. 22 at Philsports Arena in Pasig City in a crucial fixture, as they’ll also stake their unbeaten home record before closing group play on Feb. 12 against New Taipei.

Ryukyu leads Group B with a 3-0 record, Meralco is second followed by New Taipei at 1-1, the Macau Black Bears at 2-3 while Busan is at 1-3 after ending a winless start to the campaign at the Bolts’ expense.

Imports DJ Kennedy and Akil Mitchell put on stellar performances for Meralco, but not enough to put the game in the bag.

Kennedy had 23 points and nine rebounds, while Mitchell tallied 17 points and 18 rebounds in his return after being sidelined by a broken nose in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup against Rain or Shine a few weeks ago.

Meralco resumes its domestic stint on Christmas Day at Smart Araneta Coliseum against Converge. The FiberXers were playing the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the Commissioner’s Cup at press time at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Winless Beermen

Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer’s Final Four hopes became more distant in Group A when it fell to Hong Kong Eastern, 71-62.

The Beermen remained winless in the EASL at 0-3 that also spoiled coach Leo Austria’s first game in an international competition.

It will be the first of two meetings between San Miguel and Eastern as they’ll meet on Sunday in the Commissioner’s Cup at Philsports.

But before that, Eastern has a crucial fixture with NorthPort in a fight for the lead in the midseason conference also at Philsports on Friday. Both are at 5-1, with the Batang Pier considering this as a massive challenge.

“I think this will dictate where we are at this point because we had five straight wins, then lost one and then going up against Eastern,” said NorthPort star Arvin Tolentino in Filipino after Tuesday’s shock loss to erstwhile winless Phoenix.