MACAO – Arvin Tolentino would have loved seeing the Meralco Bolts playing and competing in the EASL Finals this week at the Studio City in this so-called Las Vegas of Asia.
The Seoul SK Knights Asian import said the one-time PBA Philippine Cup champion is definitely a force to reckon with if it made the post-season play which formally kicks off on Wednesday.
READ: Arvin Tolentino stays ready and available if Gilas comes calling
“I thought they’re gonna be the team to beat,” said the 30-year-old Tolentino of the Bolts, who fell a win short of making the playoffs for the very first time after losing to Ryukyu Golden Kings during the final playdate of the group stage, 88-79, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Ang lakas ng team nila. JB (Justin Brownlee), RHJ (Rondae Hollis-Jefferson), tsaka si (Ismael) Romero. One time kumpleto talaga sila. Unfortunately, si Rondae na-injured.”
Meralco did look formidable once it secured the services of Hollis-Jefferson and Romero as world imports, Brownlee as its naturalized player, and Sina Vahedi as its Asian import.
But the stars didn’t align for the team as Vahedi missed out on the Bolts’ first two outings, and Brownlee didn’t come on board until the fifth game of Meralco.
And just when everyone was finally around, Hollis-Jefferson went down with a torn Achilles tendon and failed to finish Meralco’s campaign.
The Taoyuan Pauian Pilots edged out the Bolts for the no. 2 and last playoff spot in Group B, joining top seed Ryukyu Golden Kings.
The SK Knights meanwhile, emerged as the top two teams in Group A together with Utsunomiya Brex, while advancing from Group C are the Alvark Tokyo and the New Taipei Kings.
Had Meralco advance, it would be facing Tolentino and the SK Knights in the quarterfinals.
“Siyempre, PBA team yan at tsaka Filipino,” he said of Meralco. “It would have been fun to see them competing right now in the EASL.
The SK Knights and Taoyuan Pilots usher the quarterfinals at 5 p.m. followed by the 7:30 p.m. mainer between the New Taipei Kings and Utsunomiya Brex.
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