Game Notes: Group B – New Taipei Kings (1-0) vs. Meralco Bolts (0-1)

Kings are heavy favorites, Meralco draft new imports

November 29, 2023 – New Taipei Xinzhuang Gymnasium, New Taipei City, Chinese Taipei

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Storylines

Can the Kings keep their winning streak alive?

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The New Taipei Kings are scorching hot going into Wednesday’s matchup against the Meralco Bolts. The Kings entered the week with a 5-0 start in the P. LEAGUE+ and have won their lone EASL game against Champions Week runners-up Seoul SK Knights.

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Star player Jeremy Lin has gotten into his groove after a slow start, leading the team with 23.2 points per game in P. LEAGUE+.

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Byron Mullens has also played well, averaging a double-double with 18.2 points and 11 rebounds in five games.

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Kenny Manigault was the EASL Player of the Game in the first game against Seoul SK Knights, with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and five steals against the KBL side. This included a spectacular windmill dunk on the fastbreak.

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The Kings are 5-0 at home this season. Will the winning streak continue?

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Can the Bolts get charged up?

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The Meralco Bolts have cooled down after a hot start to the PBA season, where they won their opening two games.

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After dropping their EASL debut against defending B.LEAGUE champions Ryukyu Golden Kings on November 15, they came home and lost to EASL Champions Week entrants San Miguel Beermen.

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They returned to winning ways after the FIBA international break, defeating EASL rivals TNT Tropang Giga 109-95 on Sunday.

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The Bolts only managed to put up 61 points in their EASL debut. Can the team find an extra charge when they take on the heavily favored New Taipei Kings?

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Strength vs. Speed

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The Kings rely heavily on their transition game and outgun their opponents. They averaged 10.8 steals in five P. LEAGUE+ games this season and recorded 10 steals in their EASL debut against the Knights, resulting in 14 points off turnovers.

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EASL Player of the Game Kenny Manigault recorded five steals in the game against Seoul and has averaged 3.8 steals domestically.

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Meralco rely on their interior game. In their loss against Ryukyu, they outscored their opponents 28-20 inside the paint.

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Suleiman Braimoh has been leading the Bolts thus far. However, he is set to miss his second straight EASL game due to visa issues.

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Prince Ibeh has taken over as the team’s lone import, coming one rebound short of a double-double in Meralco’s loss against Ryukyu. He finished the game with 10 points and nine boards.

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The Bolts have also picked up Zach Lofton as their third import. The 31-year-old shooting guard played one game for the Detroit Pistons in the 2018-19 NBA season. He last played for Al Ahly Benghazi in the Libyan Division I Basketball League.

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The Bolts will have to lean heavily on their interior presence if they are to have any shot of winning this game.

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By the Numbers

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New Taipei Kings

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- Team History:

Founded: 2021
Honors: 2022-23 P. LEAGUE+ runners-up

- 2022-23 P. LEAGUE+ Runners-Up

Regular season record: 27-13
P. LEAGUE+ Regular Season Champions
Playoffs: defeated Dreamers 3-1 in semifinals; lost to Taipei Fubon Braves 4-2 in P. LEAGUE+ Finals

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 1-0

November 8, 2023: 90-72 win over Seoul SK Knights (KBL)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

Points: Kenny Manigault – 22.0 ppg
Rebounds: Kenny Manigault – 11.0 rpg
Assists: Jeremy Lin – 9.0 apg
Steals: Kenny Manigault – 5.0 spg
Blocks: Christian Anigwe – 5.0 bpg

- EASL 2023-24 Season upcoming games:

Home vs. Meralco Bolts (PBA) – November 27, 2023
Away vs. Meralco Bolts (PBA) – January 3, 2024
Home vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) – January 10, 2024
Away vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) – January 24, 2024
Away vs. Seoul SK Knights (KBL) – January 31, 2024

- 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Season record: 5-0

November 11, 2023: 96-89 win over Taipei Fubon Braves
November 18, 2023: 111-87 win over Hsinchu Lioneers
November 19, 2023: 123-113 win over Taoyuan Pauian Pilots
November 25, 2023: 98-92 win over Taoyuan Pauian Pilots
November 26, 2023: 109-93 win over Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers

- P. LEAGUE+ 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

Points: Jeremy Lin – 23.2 ppg
Rebounds: Byron Mullens – 11.0 rpg
Assists: Jeremy Lin – 6.4 apg
Steals: Kenny Manigault – 3.8 spg
Blocks: Joseph Lin – 1.5 bpg

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Meralco Bolts

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- Team History:

Founded: 2010
Honors: 4x PBA Governors’ Cup runners-up (2015-16, 2016-17, 2019, 2021)

- 2022-23 PBA Governors’ Cup

Regular season record: 7-4
Playoffs: defeated Magnolia Hotshots 113-107 in Quarterfinals; loss to TNT Tropang Giga 3-1 in semifinals

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 0-1

November 15, 2023: 89-61 loss against Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

Points: Chris Newsome – 11.0 ppg
Rebounds: Prince Ibeh – 9.0 rpg
Assists: Anjo Caram – 4.0 apg
Steals: Aaron Black – 2.0 spg
Blocks: Alvin Pasaol & Prince Ibeh – 1.0 bpg

- EASL 2023-24 Season upcoming games:

Away vs. New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+) – November 29, 2023
Home vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) – December 13, 2023
Home vs. Seoul SK Knights (KBL) – December 27, 2023
Home vs. New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+) – January 3, 2024
Away vs. Seoul SK Knights (KBL) – February 7, 2024

- 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Season record: 2-0

November 8, 2023: 107-102 win over Rain or Shine
November 11, 2023: 91-84 win over Blackwater Bossing
November 19, 2023: 93-83 loss against San Miguel Beermen
November 26, 2023: 109-95 win over TNT Tropang Giga

- 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Season stat leaders:

Points: Suleiman Braimoh – 31.5 ppg
Rebounds: Suleiman Braimoh – 13.0 rpg
Assists: Chris Newsome – 5.0 apg
Steals: Suleiman Braimoh – 2.5 spg
Blocks: Suleiman Braimoh – 1.0 bpg‍

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‍Players to Watch

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New Taipei Kings‍

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#7 Jeremy Lin – G

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- USA NCAA Division 1: Harvard (2006-2010)

2× First-team All-Ivy League (2009, 2010)
Second-team All-Ivy League (2008)

- Former NBA player (Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors)

NBA Career Stats: 480 games – 11.6 ppg, 4.3 apg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 spg
NBA: 2019 NBA Champion (Toronto Raptors)
2012 NBA TV Social Breakout Player of the Year

- Former NBA G League player (Reno Bighorns, Erie Bayhawks, Santa Cruz Warriors)

- China: 2020 CBA All-Star (Beijing Ducks)

- Chinese Taipei: 2023 P. LEAGUE+ Assists Leader (Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers)

- 2012 Time 100: Most Influential People of the Year

- 2012 ESPY Award for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats: