Meralco Bolts clash with ‘Linsanity,’ New Taipei Kings in EASL

Game Wednesday
(PhilSports Arena)
7 p.m. — Meralco vs New Taipei Kings

MERALCO aims to ring in the New Year with an all-important victory in the East Asia Super League (EASL) today against Jeremy Lin and New Taipei at the PhilSports Arena.

At 1-3, the Meralco Bolts lurk at the bottom of the standings in Group B but still within sight of a semifinal berth provided they sweep their last two assignments in pool play.

First order of business is beating “Linsanity” and the unbeaten Kings at 7 p.m. to stay alive. Do that and the Bolts will have much to play in their elims windup duel with Korea’s Seoul SK Knights on the road on Feb. 7.

The unbeaten Taiwanese club paces Group B with 2-0 with Korea’s Seoul SK Knights (2-2) and Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings (2-2) ahead of fighting-for-life Meralco.

Aside from survival, Luigi Trillo’s charges will be driven by desire to get back at New Taipei after giving them a 97-92 loss on the road last month as well as picking up a first win on Philippine soil.

The Bolts fell short in their first home gig, 80-81 at the hands of the Knights last Wednesday in the same venue in Pasig. Their previous EASL breakthrough was posted in a home-away-from-home outing in Macau, 97-88 over Ryukyu in overtime last Dec. 13.

Imports Zach Lofton and Prince Ibeh and local aces Chris Newsome, Allein Maliksim Chris Banchero and Cliff Hodge are expected to anchor the Bolts’ home stand.

Apart from former NBA star Mr. Lin, who fired 25 points to go with seven assists the first time against Meralco, the Kings bank on import Kenny Manigault, who had 19-11-6 in the Taipei game, and Hayden Blankley, who chipped in 15 spiked by three triples.

Mr. Blankley is marking his Manila comeback after suiting up for the Bay Area Dragons that finished runner-up to Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Season 47 Commissioner’s Cup. The Australian sniper was best remembered for scoring 47 highlighted by 10 treys plus 10 boards in the Dragons’ 126-96 romp over Rain or Shine in the elims. — Olmin Leyba