Meralco seeks a crucial home game win in the East Asia Super League as it takes on former NBA star Jeremy Lin and the formidable New Taipei Kings at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The Bolts are seeking to avenge a 97-92 loss to the unbeaten Kings during their initial encounter at the New Taipei Xinzhuang gymnasium a month ago.
In that game, the 35-year-old Jeremy Lin showcased his leadership with an impressive 25-point production and seven assists.
Lin was ably supported by import Kenny Manigault, who had a stellar double-double performance of 19 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
Hayden Blankley, a familiar face from the defunct Bay Area Dragons, also played a crucial role in the Kings’ victory with 15 points, including nine from beyond the three-point line.
In their previous home game, the Bolts absorbed a narrow loss to the Seoul SK Knights, losing by a razor-thin margin of 81-80 at the same Pasig venue.
Despite this setback, Meralco remains in contention for the semifinal berths in Group B, currently holding a 1-3 record and looking to secure their first home victory.
The Taipei Kings, currently dominating Group B with an unblemished 2-0 record, arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday and wasted no time hitting the practice court at the Philsports Arena.
Notably, the initial clash with New Taipei marked the debut of Meralco’s import, Zach Lofton, who made an immediate impact by top-scoring with 35 points, including an impressive 6-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc.
