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The Meralco Bolts are on a roll in the EASL Home and Away Season 3, notching their second straight win with a 92-74 victory over the debuting Macau Black Bears at the newly refurbished Cebu Coliseum last Saturday night.

Imports Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Ismael Romero spearheaded the second-quarter breakaway for the Bolts before the rest of the team joined in to secure the 18-point winning margin. Romero delivered a massive double-double with 25 points and 28 rebounds, while Hollis-Jefferson finished with a game-high 34 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, thrilling the Cebuano crowd with three thunderous dunks.

It was Meralco’s second straight home win in a week, evening their Group B record at 2-2 behind the Taoyuan Pilots (2-1) and the Ryukyu Golden Kings (1-1). The Bolts had earlier defeated the Pilots, 82-72, at the Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela.

Chris Banchero led the locals with 12 points, three rebounds, and three assists, while Asian import Sina Vahedi added 10 points, three rebounds, and four assists.

For Macau, Damian Chongqui had 25 points, with Omari Peek-Green and Jalon Demarco Miller adding 14 apiece in the Black Bears’ season debut.

Proceeds from the EASL game will be donated to Typhoon Tino victims in Cebu, with Meralco also raising P500,000 for the cause.

EASL senior vice president Dominic Tang announced the league’s relief commitment, underscoring basketball’s power to unite and uplift communities in times of need.

The scores

Meralco (92)—Hollis-Jefferson 34, Romero 25, Banchero 12, Vahedi 10, Newsome 7, Quinto 2, Hodge 2, Caram 0, Kouame 0.

Macau (74)—Chongqui 25, Peek-Green 14, Miller 14, Ye 13, Shackelford 8, Guo 0, Liu 0, Cao 0, Lao 0.

Quarter scores: 25-24, 48-38, 65-52, and 92-74.

The East Asia Super League (EASL) has upheld Meralco’s 85-76 victory over the Taoyuan Pilots in their match held last Saturday in Ilagan, Isabela, even as the Bolts offered to replay the game in the spirit of sportsmanship.

Under EASL rules, each team may enlist two world imports, one naturalized player, and one Asian heritage recruit—but only three of them can be on the court at the same time. A misunderstanding of this rule led to Meralco fielding four imports simultaneously for a total of over 9 minutes. EASL records show Meralco outscored Taoyuan 22-15 during that stretch.

EASL CEO Henry Kerins stated the incident was unintentional and did not significantly impact the outcome. Both teams acknowledged the oversight, and Taoyuan accepted the result. EASL requested FIBA not to assign the same game commissioner to future matches to ensure stricter enforcement of the rule.

In addition, Meralco received penalties for other violations: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was fined $2,000 for skipping pre- and post-game interviews, while coach Nenad Vucinic was fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike gestures, with a warning of future suspension.

With the ruling, Meralco’s EASL record stands at 1-2. The Bolts next face the Macau Black Bears on Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum, with all ticket proceeds going to disaster relief for Cebu and nearby provinces.

The Black Bears, making their season debut, will be led by Damian Chong Qui, supported by Omar Peek Green, Torrance Watson, and Phoenix Shackelford.

The Meralco Bolts aim to sustain their early momentum and secure a second consecutive win as they take on the visiting Macau Black Bears in the continuation of the 2025 East Asia Super League (EASL) this Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Fresh off their 85-76 triumph over the Taoyuan Pilots in Ilagan, Isabela, the Bolts are brimming with confidence as they return to action—this time in front of Cebuano fans eager to witness top-tier regional basketball.

The matchup will also serve as the season debut for the Macau Black Bears, who are looking to make a strong first impression against a Meralco squad that has shown early signs of cohesion under coach Nenad Vucinic and deputy Luigi Trillo.

Adding depth to Meralco’s roster are their reliable imports Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Ismael Romero, alongside naturalized player Ange Kouame and Asian import Sina Vahedi of Iran. Their chemistry will be key as they look to impose their pace and defensive discipline against the dynamic, fast-paced style of the Black Bears.

Beyond the competition, the Cebu showdown will also carry a deeper purpose, as the EASL announced that all ticket proceeds will be donated to victims of Typhoon Tino, which recently struck parts of Cebu and nearby provinces.

With pride, purpose, and playoff positioning at stake, Meralco will try to electrify once more—this time, in the Queen City of the South.

Meralco Bolt’s 85-76 victory over the Taoyuan Pilots in the East Asia Super League (EASL) might be overturned after the Taiwanese squad formally filed a protest, claiming the Bolts fielded four imports simultaneously—a violation of FIBA’s two-import rule for the regional league.

The Bolts had Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Ismael Romero, Ange Kouame, and Sina Vahedi on the floor together during one stretch of the second quarter, according to Pilots coach Lurgi Caminos.

Despite the issue, Meralco coach Luigi Trillo said they’ll respect whatever decision the EASL hands down, emphasizing that the team played “with pride and honor.”

“We played with honor. We’re good soldiers. Reputation-wise, we’re one of the most honorable teams in the PBA,” Trillo said.

The EASL has yet to release an official ruling on the protest.

Meralco’s bid to make the East Asia Super League (EASL) playoffs is hanging in the balance after two consecutive road losses — but there’s renewed hope as the Bolts return home for their final four elimination games, starting with Saturday’s rematch against Chinese-Taipei’s Taoyuan Pauian Pilots at the Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela.

Head coach Luigi Trillo admitted it’s been a challenging stretch for Meralco, which is also juggling its campaign in the PBA Philippine Cup. Since bowing to Ryukyu on Oct. 22, the Bolts have dropped back-to-back PBA games to NLEX and TNT, followed by a setback against Taoyuan last Sunday, where active coaching consultant Nenad Vucinic was ejected after two technical fouls.

“We’re representing not just Meralco but also the PBA and our country, and we’re doing our best under the circumstances,” said Trillo. “CJ (Cansino) couldn’t play in our second EASL game because of a bad sprain and we’re still waiting for JB (Justin Brownlee).”

Under EASL rules, teams may enlist two world imports, a naturalized player, and an Asian heritage import. If Brownlee remains unavailable, Ange Kouame will take his place on Saturday. 

Kouame, however, is coming off a six-week layoff and only returned to practice this week. The good news: Asian heritage import Sina Vahedi is now in town and set to play in the Bolts’ next four EASL outings.

Trillo confirmed that Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Ismael Romero will continue to anchor Meralco’s import lineup. For the Taoyuan Pilots, key players to watch include 7’1” former Phoenix Suns draftee Alec Brown, 6’11” naturalized player Will Artino, 6’7” forward Setric Millner, and national standout Lu Chun Hsiang, who’s averaging 19 points per game.

Following Saturday’s clash, Meralco will host Macau on Nov. 15, the Black Bears rematch on Dec. 6, and Ryukyu on Feb. 11—all at the Capital Arena. 

The top two teams in Meralco’s group of four will advance to the Round of Six playoffs in March.

The Bolts will return to PBA action against Terrafirma on Dec. 10.

What began as a season of high hopes is quickly unraveling for the Meralco Bolts. The squad absorbed its second straight defeat in the EASL Home and Away Season 3, falling to the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, 82-72, on Sunday at the Taoyuan Arena in Taipei.

Imports Ismael Romero and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the fightback with huge performances. Romero posting 26 points and 17 rebounds, and Hollis-Jefferson adding 22 markers, 14 boards, and four assists, but their efforts fell short after trailing by as much as 17.

Meralco now drops to 0-2 in Group B, a disappointing start for a team that entered the season with confidence, anticipating the arrival of Justin Brownlee, who has yet to join the roster.

Meanwhile, William Artino powered the Pilots with 20 points and 17 rebounds to lift them to a 2-0 record atop the group standings.

The Bolts also lost composure late in the first half when consultant Nenad Vucinic was ejected for back-to-back technical fouls, leaving coach Luigi Trillo to steer the team’s comeback attempt.

“We battled back and did enough to make it manageable,” said Trillo, as Meralco trimmed a 17-point deficit to just six in the final minute before running out of time.

Despite a stellar debut from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the Meralco Bolts faltered late and suffered an 81–72 road loss to the Ryukyu Golden Kings in their East Asia Super League opener on Wednesday, October 22, in Okinawa, Japan.

The former NBA standout and three-time PBA Best Import powered the Bolts with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks, showing flashes of brilliance even without key teammates Justin Brownlee and Sina Vahedi.

Hollis-Jefferson found solid support from Ismael Romero, who posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Chris Newsome and CJ Cansino added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Meralco mounted a late rally, cutting the deficit to two, 72–74, on a Newsome three-pointer, but Ryukyu answered with a decisive 7-0 closing run behind Ryo Sadohara and Ryuichi Kishimoto. Sadohara drilled a clutch triple to seal the win, while Kishimoto led the Golden Kings with 22 points, 8 assists, and 4 steals.

The Bolts missed the dynamic presence of Brownlee, who starred for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 Asian Games, and Vahedi, an All-Tournament Team member from the FIBA Asia Cup.

Now 0–1 in Group B, Meralco aims to regroup as it heads to Taiwan to face Taoyuan on November 2, determined to translate Hollis-Jefferson’s strong performance into their first EASL victory.

The Meralco Bolts will serve as the sole Philippine representative in the upcoming 2025-26 East Asia Super League (EASL) season, as confirmed by league officials on Thursday, July 31.

With the PBA’s 50th season packed with games, the league opted to field only one team instead of the usual two. PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial explained the decision, citing scheduling difficultIes.

Magnolia and NLEX continued their dominance in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup after defeating their respective opponents on Wednesday night, May 14, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Hotshots maintained their grip on the top of the standings with a spotless 6-0 record after a commanding 117-92 win over the defending champions Meralco Bolts in the main game of the Wednesday double-header.

Paul Lee led the charge for Magnolia, pouring in 27 points built on an efficient 4-of-5 shooting from the four-point territory and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

Ian Sangalang followed with 16 markers and nine boards, while Zavier Lucero and James Laput contributed 11 points and seven rebounds each. Rome Dela Rosa also chipped in 11 markers. Mark Barroca, Jerom Lastimosa, and Peter Alfaro III added nine markers apiece.

The Bolts kept it close until Lee’s barrage of 4’s broke the game wide open in the closing minutes.

Tensions flared late in the contest when Cliff Hodge’s hard tackle on Lucero halted the game, prompting a brief commotion that required Commissioner Willie Marcial to step in and restore order.

Despite the heated moment, cooler heads prevailed. After the final buzzer, both teams shook hands, exchanged hugs, and shared smiles.

The San Miguel Beermen fended off a spirited comeback from the Meralco Bolts, 110-98, in a throwback-filled matchup as the PBA celebrated its 50th Anniversary on Wednesday, April 9, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Sporting retro uniforms in celebration of the league’s milestone, the Beermen secured their second straight-win in the conference, while the Bolts dropped to 2-1.

June Mar Fajardo delivered another stellar performance with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, while CJ Perez top scored with 29 markers, five boards, four dimes, and two steals.

The Ginebra Gin Kings once again defeated the Meralco Bolts in a series, after winning Game 3 of their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup duel, 94-87, on Sunday night, February 9, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Justin Brownlee had another clutch performance in leading the Ginebra to their sixth straight Final Four appearance.

Brownlee put-up an almost triple-double performance with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, dominating his counterpart Akil Mitchell, who only had eight markers for the Meralco.

The game was close from the beginning with only one lead change going to halftime break, where the Bolts had a slight advantage of 38-37.

Barangay Ginebra took another win at the expense of the Meralco Bolts, 100-92, in the Game 1 of their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals bout last night, February 5, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was the fifth straight win of the Gin Kings this season against Meralco, whom they swept in their semifinals match-up last Governors’ Cup, 3-0, and defeated in the elimination round of this season’s Comm’s Cup.

Scottie Thompson had an all-around game to lead the way for Ginebra, tallying 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists, seven steals, and a block.

Justin Brownlee also chipped in 23 markers, while Japeth Aguilar and RJ Abarrientos added 19 and 14, respectively.

The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots dominated the import-less Meralco Bolts, 129-92, last night, January 31, at the Philsports Arena to force a do-or-die match on Sunday for the 8th and final spot of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.

Ricardo Ratliffe waxed hot in the opening half as he took advantage of the absence of Meralco’s reinforcement, Akil Mitchell, who sat out for the second straight game due to back spasm.

The hulking Magnolia import already produced 24 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the field going into the break. He also grabbed nine boards, two assists, and one steal before halftime.

Ratliffe finished with 31 markers, 19 boards, four assists, and two steals, against two fouls and one turnover.

Barangay Ginebra finished the elimination round of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup with a thrilling victory against Meralco, 91-87, on Chinese New Year at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings closed the preliminaries with an 8-4 win-loss record, tying the Converge FiberXers, while the Bolts dropped to 7-4.

The game results paved the way for the NorthPort Batang Pier to earn a twice-to-beat advantage going into the quarters and they also got the No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history.

It was a close battle between the two rivals in the end after Meralco climbed back from a 17-point deficit despite playing All-Filipino as their import Akil Mitchell did not play due to back spasms. The loss halted the three-game win streak of the Bolts.

During the East Asia Super League (EASL) battle between the Meralco Bolts and the Ryukyu Golden Kings, where the latter won, 89-71, on Wednesday night, January 22, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig, one name stood out – it’s Chris Newsome.

In a post-game interview, Ryukyu head coach Dai Oketani said that Meralco is a great team with great players, especially Newsome.

“He is really, really, a good player. It was really difficult for us to stop him,” said Oketani.

The Ryukyu Golden Kings secured the B1 seed in the East Asia Super League (EASL) 2024-25 season after defeating their rivals, Meralco Bolts, 89-71, on Wednesday night, January 22, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Ryukyu had a 12-4 start before Meralco made their run to get a 22-16 lead, but the Golden Kings regained the lead before the end of the first quarter to post a slim 23-22 advantage.

In the second frame, it was another see-saw battle between the two squads until Ryuku brought a 50-41 edge at the half.

Golden Kings team captain Victor Law already produced 12 points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal going to the break.

Keve Aluma poured eight of his total 18 markers to lead the Ryuku's third quarter dominance and brought a 19-point lead entering the fourth, 75-56.

Meralco had multiple runs in the final period, which delighted the spectators in the venue, but the Golden Kings always had an answer that led them to the victory.

Law was named Player of the Game as he finished with 20 points, eight boards, five dimes and two deflections. He also shot 5-of-8 from the two-point area, 2-of-6 triples, and a perfect 4-of-4 from the line.

Alex Kirk added 19 points and eight rebounds for Ryukyu, while Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki and Ryuichi Kishimoto scored 12 apiece.

After a dazzling debut game in their East Asia Super League win last November 13 against Busan KCC Egis, 81-80, Meralco’s midseason addition, Akil Mitchell, has quietly put together one of the most impressive EASL campaigns in history.

On Wednesday, January 22, Mitchell will again have the toughest test against the Ryukyu Golden Kings, and he is expected to deliver another standout performance against their opponent's versatile frontcourt of Jack Cooley, Alex Kirk, and Keve Aluma. It will also depend on head coach Dai Oketani how to rotate his big men in challenging Mitchell.

It will be a crucial game for the Bolts as they try to vie for a playoff spot in their remaining games (including this one).

Mitchell will also be tested inside the paint as Ryukyu’s second-chance opportunities always help them to win, secure a spot in the Final Four, and now lead Group B in the standings.

Mitchell will be needing the support of his teammates and as well as his captain Chris Newsome for Meralco to stand a chance. Newsome must step up and boost their record and move one step closer to securing a spot in the semifinals.

During Mitchell’s stint in this season's EASL, he collected an average of 25 points, 20 rebounds and two assists, and this upcoming match-up will prove his toughness to the league's elite.  

He also helped the Bolts to get back on track after they absorbed a 74-77 loss to the Japan B. League club last October.

Meanwhile, Ryukyu is holding onto the top spot, but still their position isn’t entirely secure. They might have secured a Final Four spot already, but a loss to Meralco, combined with either the Bolts or the P. LEAGUE+’s New Taipei Kings winning out, could see them slip to the second seed in Group B.

The Golden Kings will look to build on that success and secure control of the B1 seed heading into the next round.

The Meralco Bolts will try to strengthen their hopes of getting to the Final Four of the East Asia Super League (EASL) 2024-25 season when they meet the Ryukyu Golden Kings on Wednesday, January 22, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

In their first meeting on October 16, 2024, Ryukyu opened their season with a narrow win against Meralco, 77-74, at the Okinawa Arena in Japan.

Last season, the two teams split their head-to-head match-up with the Golden Kings winning the first encounter with a dominating 89-61 triumph behind Keita Imamura’s game-high 19 points, while the Bolts get their vengeance through Chris Newsome heroics in their second battle to get a 97-88 overtime victory.

This coming Wednesday, Meralco will be determined to duplicate the feat versus Ryukyu on home turf as they aim to be part of the semifinals cast for the very first time.

The TNT Tropang Giga escaped the fiery Meralco Bolts for a third win in a nail-biting 101-99 victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Philsports Arena on Tuesday, January 7.

Despite their valiant attempt to rally from a deficit of up to 23 points, the Bolts were unable to answer on the final possession, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson made the game-winning free throws with 10 seconds remaining on the clock.

RHJ’s timely heroics allowed TNT to maintain its third consecutive victory. He finished with an all-around performance of 24 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks, while Calvin Oftana spearheaded the locals with 24 markers, as well as four boards.

Jansen Rios buried a crucial three-pointer in the dying seconds of the game to give Meralco the win against Terrafirma, 96-91, on Friday night, December 6, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The win also lifted the Bolts the share of the lead in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup team standings with NorthPort Batang Pier at 3-0.

It was a grind-out battle in the crucial stage of the game until Rios hit an unmolested triple at the right corner to give the Meralco a 94-91 lead and Chris Newsome sank two free throws after Dyip's erratic plays in the final 9.4 seconds of the game.

The game seemed like it would be a blowout game when the Bolts erected a 67-51 lead in the third quarter but Terrafirma showed resiliency and even tied the game at 91-all with 1:05 left in the fourth and final period.

Meralco coach Luigi Trillo was just glad his team hung on despite blowing a big lead.