Meralco guns for elusive EASL playoff ticket in do-or-die clash vs. Ryukyu

MANILA, February 10 ------ The Meralco Bolts are set to fight for their playoff lives when they face the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the East Asia Super League (EASL) on Wednesday. Tip-off is at 7:40 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, with that match’s outcome bound to determine whether Meralco advances to the playoffs.

Now in their third EASL season, Meralco has yet to make the postseason. The upcoming game is the sixth meeting between the Bolts and Ryukyu — the most-played matchup in the league’s history — and the Golden Kings currently hold four wins in their previous five games. However, the Bolts are not only searching for their second win against the Japan B.League team, as they also need a victory by six points or more to stay in contention.

A win by five or less would only tie them in Group B with Ryukyu and the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots at 4-2. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head results, but all three teams would be 1-1 against each other, keeping them even. The next tiebreaker is point differential.

Meralco is currently at -10, while Ryukyu is at +1. The six-point advantage is needed by the Bolts to surpass Ryukyu and claim the No. 2 seed behind Taoyuan. In this scenario, Meralco will be at -4, while Ryukyu falls to -5. In addition, a 20-point win by the Bolts would give them the No. 1 seed. A loss, however, would end Meralco’s season at 3-3, while Ryukyu would finish 5-1 and Taoyuan 4-2. Only the top two teams of each group will advance. Justin Brownlee and Jason Brickman are expected to lead Meralco in the win-or-go-home matchup.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com