For The Meralco Bolts, Outcome Of Ryukyu Golden Kings-Taoyuan Pauian Pilots Game Matters

(Update) The Ryukyu Golden Kings defeated the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, 88-82, on Wednesday. Despite the win in Okinawa, Ryukyu failed to win by 15 points or more to claim the top spot in Group B and a trip to the EASL Finals.

The Meralco Bolts await the results between the EASL Ryukyu Golden Kings vs Taoyuan Pauian Pilots on Wednesday in Okinawa. Taoyuan Pilots are currently the leaders in EASL's Group B, while the Ryukyu Golden Kings are currently on a three-game winning streak after beating the winless Macau Black Bears on January 21.

A win for the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots in Okinawa will book them a ticket to the EASL Finals. For Ryukyu, though, they have to win by a huge margin (15 points or more) to clinch the EASL Finals and the top spot in Group B.

The game on February 4 has implications for the Meralco Bolts. Meralco is also on a three-game winning streak, like the Ryukyu Golden Kings, whom they'll play on February 11, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. A win for Meralco next week would force yet another tiebreaker situation in Group B.

"We just have to wait for the result to know exactly what we need to do on Wednesday. If Ryukyu loses, then we need only to win, but to say only to win against Ryukyu is a tough proposition," said the Meralco Bolts' active consultant, coach Nenad Vucinic, after team practice at the Meralco Gym on Tuesday. "So we're just focusing on ourselves and not looking at the score. Once we find out the exact number we need to win by, then we’ll focus on that."

The addition of Justin Brownlee was a key factor in the Meralco Bolts' three-game winning streak. Still, at the cost of losing Rondae Hollis-Jefferson due to a knee injury he suffered during their game against the Macau Black Bears on December 6, 2025.

"He [Rondae Hollis-Jefferson] was a big part of our team, and he was part of our three wins, and losing a player like that, it's very difficult for the team," the Serbian coach said. "But it's much more difficult for him to deal with it, the serious injury that he had."

Whether the outcome of the Ryukyu Golden Kings-Taoyuan Pilots game in Okinawa favors the Meralco Bolts or not, the lone Philippine team's post-season hopes in the EASL are on the line on February 11.

"If they [Ryukyu Golden Kings] do lose, that means we have to win to qualify, but again, we cannot think about that," coach Nenad Vucinic stressed.