Meralco bows out of EASL playoff contention anew after loss to Ryukyu

MANILA, February 12 ------ The Meralco Bolts’ search for a postseason berth in the East Asia Super League (EASL) has come to an end following a costly setback against the Ryukyu Golden Kings. The country’s representatives absorbed a 79-88 loss to the Japan B.LEAGUE squad at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, dashing their comeback hopes after trailing by as many as 20 points.

Controversial import Ismael Romero led Meralco with 21 points and eight rebounds to go with a steal, while Cody Lalanne added 18 markers. Barangay Ginebra star Justin Brownlee contributed 12 points, six assists, and four rebounds. Meralco trimmed the deficit to six late in the fourth quarter to move within two possessions, but Jack Cooley knocked down a tough basket late in the shot clock to restore Ryukyu’s eight-point cushion, 84-76, with 58 seconds remaining.

Romero split his free throws before converting inside off a turnover to pull the Bolts within five, 79-84. However, that proved to be as close as they would get, as Shuto Sakihama sealed the win from the line with two free throws, while Brownlee misfired from beyond the arc in the closing seconds. Mohammadsina Vahedi chipped in 10 points in the loss, while CJ Cansino was the lone local contributor of note with seven markers as Meralco finished with three wins in six outings in Group B.

On the other side, Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki paced the Golden Kings with 18 points, while Victor Law added 15. Ryukyu topped their group with five wins in six outings and advanced to the EASL Finals 2026 in Macau alongside second-seeded Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, who finished the group stage with four wins in six games.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com