MERALCO all but sealed a place in the quarterfinals of the Basketball Champions League Asia by defeating newly-crowned Japan B.League champion Utsunomiya Brex, 97-86, on Sunday night in Dubai.
The Meralco import trio of Glynn Watson, Jordon Varnado, and John Egbunu got valuable support from locals Chris Banchero and Cliff Hodge as the Philippine representative wrapped up the group stage with a 1-1 win-loss record in Group B.
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By winning one game in the group stage, the Bolts essentially clinched a place in the knockout stage with still one game to be played between Utsunomiya and Shabab Al Ahli on Monday.
Eight teams will advance in the nine-team tournament based on their record in the group stage. And with Chinese Basketball Association champion Zhejiang Guangsha Lions ending up winless in two games in Group A, Meralco will finish among the top eight in the tournament.
Banchero shared scoring honors with Watson and Varnado with 17 points apiece for the Bolts, who will wait for their quarterfinal opponent to be determined in a draw.
Hodge also gave the Bolts a spark offensively after finishing with 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting in the Brex’s first game of the group stage.
Watson had four rebounds and four assists, while Varnado was also vital to the Meralco win with his eight rebounds and six assists.
Egbunu had a double-double after adding 12 points and 13 rebounds for Meralco, which got a gap after outscoring Utsunomiya, 30-20, in the second quarter.
Former Tall Blacks standout Isaac Fotu had 20 points for the Brex, who were fresh from winning the B1 crown against Ryukyu Golden Kings in the final game of a three-game finals series last May 27.
The scores:
Meralco 97 – Banchero 17, Watson 17, Varnado 17, Hodge 16, Egbunu 12, Almazan 8, Black 6, Newsome 4, Quinto 0.
Utsunomiya Brex 86 – Fotu 20, Newbill 15, Delany 12, Hiejima 11, Takeuchi 9, Ogawa 8, Endo 6, Takashima 3, Watanabe 2, Murakishi 0, Hoshikawa 0, Ikaruga 0.
Quarters: 20-18; 50-38; 77-63; 97-86.
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