MERALCO is looking to end three years of frustration as it shoots for a first-ever playoffs appearance in the East Asia Super League.
Japan B.League side Ryukyu Golden Kings, who built a mini-rivalry with their PBA counterparts, stand in the way of the Bolts’ bid for a maiden EASL post-season stint.
Here’s a look of what to expect in the high-stakes game at the end of the tournament’s group stage.
MERALCO VS. RYUKYU
When: Feb. 11 (Wednesday), 7:30 p.m.
Where: Smart Araneta Coliseum
Bolts almost there
The former PBA Philippine Cup champions have not come close to advancing past the group stage of the EASL until this season.
Despite a slow start to their campaign, the Bolts managed to regain their bearings and bring its present record at 3-2 – which now stands as the best record in Meralco's three-year participation in the tournament.
One more win and history will be made.
READ GAB already looking into Romero attack on Demusis, says chief
But the Bolts not only need to win over Ryukyu but will need a winning margin of six points or more to advance.
By the numbers though, it its six head-to-head EASL matchup with Ryukyu, Meralco has only won once.
The Golden Kings won their first meeting in Group B against the Bolts early this season, 87-81.
Final Meralco game for Justin Brownlee
The game is the last one for the Barangay Ginebra resident import in a Meralco uniform as he’s expected to return to the Kings for the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup, which kicks off a week ahead of the EASL Finals.
The 37-year-old Brownlee had a modest debut for the Bolts with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in the Bolts’ 93-91 win over the Macau Black Bears last December in Ilagan Isabela.
With Rondae Hollis-Jefferson now out with an ACL injury, the Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player is expected to make a more active role as Meralco goes all-out against the visiting Japanese team.
Import Ismael Romero under the gun
The 6-foot-10 Puerto Rican carries an excess baggage going to the game in light of his attack on Fil-Am forward Nick Demusis during the Zamboanga-Al Ahli game in the 35th Dubai International Basketball Championship a few weeks ago.
Romero apparently left Dubai without any settlement with the camp of the Zamboanga player, an incident which now hangs above his head as he returns as one of two Meralco imports in the regional league.
Of late, Filipino basketball fans have been decrying Meralco’s decision to keep the 6-foot-9 Romero, who leads the team in both scoring (22.0) and rebounding (17.4).
It’s interesting to see how Romero will perform under the prying eyes of local cage fans.
Brickman makes Meralco debut
The game will see rookie point guard Jason Brickman playing his first ever game with Meralco, which picked him No. 7 overall in the last Season 50 draft.
Expectations are high on the 34-year-old Brickman following a long wait before he finally became eligible for the draft in the offseason.
But he did show a glimpse of what exactly he can do when he emerged as Finals MVP after Abra North Weavers completed a three-game sweep of the Quezon Huskies in the MPBL title series.
Ryukyu eyes top seed in Group B
A win by the Golden Kings will assure them of the No. 1 seed in the group heading to the EASL Finals.
A loss by six points or less will still guarantee Ryukyu of the no. 2 spot and boot out the second-running Taoyuan Pauian Pilots.
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