Meralco Bolts Seek Final Four Spot In The EASL, Battle The Ryukyu Golden Kings At Home
The Meralco Bolts are looking to gain an edge for a spot in the EASL Final Four at their home game versus the visiting Ryukyu Golden Kings at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday. The Bolts are currently 2-2 while Ryukyu remain at the top with a 4-1 record in Group B.
Both teams have endured tough losses in their previous away games. Meralco lost to a close game against Busan KCC Egis, 72-68, on December 18, 2024, in Busan, South Korea. The Ryukyu Golden Kings, meanwhile, suffered a major setback in Taiwan on January 8, 2025, losing to the Taipei Kings by a huge margin, 99-63.
Though the Ryukyu Golden Kings have already clinched a Final Four berth, seeded at number one, in the EASL, there is still a chance that Ryukyu could drop to second place if they either lose to the Meralco Bolts or the Taipei Kings score another dub on February 12.
Either way, Meralco Bolts coach Luigi Trillo still likes their chances of securing a spot at the EASL Final Four.
"We have quotient over Macau. So, my guess is, and I'm not sure about this but, if KCC loses one of their last two games (KCC lost to the Macau Black Bears on January 15 and the Taipei Kings on Tuesday, January 21, respectively), between Macau, and I think Taipei, and we lose against Ryukyu, we still can get in by beating Taipei because we will triple tie with Taipei [Kings] and Macau [Black Bears]," coach Luigi Trillo said. "So, you would've have had quotient over Taipei and we do have quotient over Macau."
"But with that being said, let's say we beat Ryukyu [Golden Kings] and we get to three already, 3-2, and let's say Taipei loses one of their last two games they don't catch us, too. I mean, that might be enough to get quotient with Macau. So, still a lot of things could happen. I think the main thing is you wanna win Ryukyu and Taipei to make sure," Trillo added.
After Ryukyu's huge loss to Taipei on January 8, they want redemption and get a dub at Meralco's home turf to remain the number one seed in the EASL Final Four.
"I dunno what type of mindest they'll have coming in. They probably might wanna use some other guys. It doesn't change, they've already controlled number one," Trillo stressed. "The only thing coming into that game is, they've probably 'Look if we win two of our games and we tie them, quotient can come into play.' So they beat us close, I think three, right? And if there's one motivation factor that they will come into our game is that that's the game they need to win, right? If they win, then nobody can probably chase them anymore in terms of quotient."