Meralco and San Miguel experienced contrasting starts to their 2024-25 East Asia Super League (EASL) campaigns at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday night.
While the Bolts triumphed over the Macau Black Bears with a dominant 97-85 victory, the Beermen stumbled in their opener, losing to the Suwon KT Sonicboom, 87-81.
Just two days after being swept by Ginebra in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals, Meralco rebounded with a collective team effort, getting its EASL season off on the right foot.
The Bolts matched their total wins from last season’s EASL campaign, where they finished with a dismal 1-5 record. Their only victory last year came against the Ryukyu Golden Kings in an overtime thriller.
This time, Chris Newsome, DJ Kennedy, Allen Durham, and Chris Banchero led the way for Meralco.
Newsome poured in 18 points and six assists, igniting a late fourth-quarter surge that turned a close 80-72 contest into a rout.
Kennedy, a former teammate of Justin Brownlee in college, was equally impressive, filling the stat sheet with 17 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
Durham, contributed a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Banchero added 14 points on efficient shooting, while Ange Kouame – playing as a local under EASL rules – chipped in nine points and grabbed nine boards.
Despite the valiant efforts of Macau’s Will Artino, Jeantal Cylla, and Damian Chongqui, the Black Bears couldn’t keep pace with the Bolts’ balanced attack.
In stark contrast, the Beermen faltered in their EASL opener, losing to the Sonicboom.
Despite holding a 43-39 lead at halftime, San Miguel was outscored 29-19 in a pivotal third quarter, allowing Suwon KT to wrestle control of the game.
Rayshaun Hammonds dropped a game-high 39 points. His dominance.
Heo Hoon added 17 points and nine assists.
Former Sonicboom and current Beermen import EJ Anosike tallied 34 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
June Mar Fajardo added 19 points and nine rebounds, but San Miguel’s second import, Quincy Miller, struggled. He scored only eight points on a poor 2-of-12 shooting night.
The Beermen will be in action again on Friday in the PBA, taking on the Converge FiberXers in Game 4 of their quarterfinals series.
The Scores:
First Game:
Suwon KT 87 – Hammonds 39, Heo 17, Han 14, Ha 9, Tilmon 8, Moon 0, Choi 0, Lee 0, Moon 0, Park 0, Ko 0.
San Miguel 81 – Anosike 34, Fajardo 19, Miller 8, Lassiter 8, Perez 7, Rosales 3, Trollano 2, Tautuaa 0, Ross 0, Cruz 0.
Quarterscores: 23-20; 39-43; 68-62; 87-81.
Second Game:
Meralco 97 – Newsome 18, Durham 17, Kennedy 17, Banchero 14, Kouame 9, Almazan 7, Quinto 7, Hodge 4, Caram 2, Bates 2.
Macau 85 – Cylla 23, Artino 23, Chongqui 21, Leung 10, Deguara 8, Chao 0, Li 0, Zeng 0, Lao 0, Chan 0.
Quarterscores: 24-17; 43-39; 73-64; 97-85.
