ZACH Lofton exploding for 54 points gives Meralco added firepower and a boost in confidence as it tries to give Philippine representatives a breakthrough win in the EASL Home and Away season on Wednesday.
The Bolts will meet reigning B.League champions Ryukyu Golden Kings at the Studio City Event Center in Macau with the benefit of a complete roster including parading two imports in Lofton and big man Prince Ibeh.
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They lost their first meeting in Okinawa, Japan three weeks ago as Meralco only had Ibeh for reinforcement and guard Chris Banchero (hamstring) still out with a hamstring injury.
But now Banchero is finally healthy, so is gunner Allein Maliksi (nasal fracture). Lofton will be playing his second game in the tournament fresh from a 125-99 rout of Northport in his PBA Commissioner’s Cup debut he highlighted with a conference-high 54 points.
Coach Luigi Trillo is naturally upbeat about his team’s chances of giving the Golden Kings a better fight - and the Bolts a better shot at finally making it to the win column after losing its first two outings in Group B.
“He got 54 (against Northport) and I think it’s a good thing for him because we have a game in Macau,” said Trillo. “First game with Prince (Ibeh), we played with one import. Now at least we have two. And we’re happy with this.”
Lofton already suited up previously for the Bolts in their game against the New Taipei Kings, where he dropped 35 points in a close 97-92 loss to the Jeremy Lin-anchored team.
Maliksi and Banchero, meanwhile, will be playing together again after skipping a game each due to their respective injuries.
“We need him, he’s one of our go to guys,” Trillo said of Maliksi, who just recovered from a nasal fracture that sidelined him for three weeks. ”Having him, having CB (Chris Banchero), and having more of a complete team is good for us. We still need something to improve, but overall we’re within striking distance from the Top 2.”
Meralco and fellow PBA team TNT are the only ones which have yet to register victories halfway through the campaign in the regional meet, with the Tropang Giga winless in four games in Group A.
But the Bolts are also banking on the support of the Filipino community in Macau, and in nearby Hong Kong.
“Filipinos are global and they always show love,” said Meralco star Chis Newsome. “Even though we’re away from the Philippines, we have a lot of fans, and it’s going to feel like a home game.”
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