MERALCO suffered a stinging setback to its Final Four bid in the EASL after being dealt a lopsided 89-71 loss by Ryukyu Golden Kings Wednesday night at the Philsports Arena.
The Kings shut down the Bolts' offense in the middle quarters to turn around a game that was tightly fought in the first period.
Import Vic Law led the four-time B. League champion with 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals in an all-around game against a Meralco side that played without import Akil Mitchell.
Its fifth win in six outings clinched for the visiting Japanese team the top seed in Group B heading to the March 7-9 Final Four in Macau.
Meanwhile, the Bolts suffered a third loss in five games to fall at fourth place behind the New Taipei Kings (3-2), a 104-87 winner over Busan KCC Egis on Tuesday night in Korea, and the Macau Black Bears (3-3).
Meralco team active consultant Nenad Vucinic said Mitchell has issue with his hurting back that the Bolts just decided to rest him.
“(We) try to win as much as (we) can and win the championship. That’s what this is all about,” said Law afterwards.
Two of Ryukyu’s other imports in Alex Kirm and Keve Aluma also submitted double figures in scoring with 19 ad 18, respectively, while combining for 15 rebounds.
The Bolts, a 77-74 loser to Ryukyu in their first meeting last October, obviously missed the presence of Mitchell, who averaged 25 points and 20 rebounds in the two games he played in the tournament.
In his absence, Cliff Hodge and Ange Kouame shared scoring honors for Meralco with 13 points each, with Hodge adding seven rebounds.
DJ Kennedy had a tough night for the Bolts, finishing with only three points on a 1-of-8 stint from the field.
Meralco now needs to win its final game against the New Taipei Kings in Taiwan on Feb. 12 in the hope of forging a three-way for the last Final Four berth together with the home team and the Black Bears.
The scores
Ryukyu (89) – Law 20, Kirk 19, Aluma 18, Kishimoto 12, Matsuwaki 12, Onodera 6, Ito 2, Tsukamoto 0, Eumatsu 0, Arakawa 0, Waki 0, Taira 0.
Meralco (71) – Hodeg 13, Kouame 13, Newsome 12, Banchero 9, Bates 6, Cansino 6, Quinto 5, Rios 3, Kennedy 3, Almazan 1, Caram 0.
Quarterscores: 23-22; 50-41; 75-56; 89-71.
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