GAME NOTES: GROUP B — Busan KCC Egis (0-3) vs. Meralco Bolts (2-1)

KCC hosts Meralco in a must-win game to stave off elimination

December 18, 2024 — Busan Sajik Gymnasium

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Where to Watch

Busan KCC and the Meralco Bolts tip off at 7:10 p.m. KST. Here’s where you can catch the game!

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South Korea:

Watch the game through CJ Entertainment’s TVING (OTT).

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Philippines:

Watch the game live or on replay on CIGNAL’s One Sports (free TV), One Sports+ (pay TV), or stream it on Pilipinas Live.

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If you’re outside these regions and want to watch the East Asia Super League (EASL) games on Dec. 18, visit the ‘Watch’ tab on our website to see where you can stream based on your location.

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Get Your Tickets

Get your tickets now at https://www.kbl.or.kr/ticket/eas-league.

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Note: Those interested must create a Korean Basketball League website membership to purchase tickets.

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Storylines

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Staying Alive

If Busan KCC loses its game against Meralco on Dec. 18, the Egis will be the first EASL team in the 2024-25 season to be eliminated from postseason contention.

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Busan KCC must win this game to keep its Final Four hopes alive. A loss to Meralco would drop the Egis to 0-4, leaving their best possible record at 2-4 and mathematically eliminating them from postseason contention.

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Group B leaders, the Ryukyu Golden Kings, are currently 3-0 and guaranteed to finish no worse than 3-3, securing their spot in the Final Four. Meralco, with a win over Busan on Dec. 18, would improve to 3-1 and also be assured of finishing at least 3-3. This would guarantee that both Ryukyu and Meralco finish ahead of Busan, claiming the only two available Final Four berths from Group B.

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Even in Busan’s best-case scenario after Dec. 18 — where the New Taipei Kings lose all four of their remaining games to finish 1-5, and Busan defeats Macau in their final matchup to tie the Black Bears at 2-4 — neither Busan nor Macau could catch Ryukyu or Meralco in the standings.

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While a win against Meralco keeps Busan’s faint postseason hopes alive, their path to the Final Four remains extremely narrow. However, a loss would seal their fate, ensuring an early exit in their inaugural EASL season.

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Nail-Biting Finish

Deonte Burton (right) sizes up Meralco's DJ Kennedy in Busan KCC's Nov. 13 game against the Bolts on Nov. 13. In that contest, both teams played down to the final buzzer, with Meralco capturing a narrow 81-80 victory.

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In one of the best finishes of the 2024-25 EASL season, Meralco narrowly defeated Busan KCC 81-80 in their first meeting on Nov. 13. Trailing 80-77 with less than a minute left, Bolts’ guard Kier Quinto tied the game with a right-wing 3 before newly acquired import Akil Mitchell sealed the victory with a free throw.

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Mitchell, who joined Meralco on Nov. 11, delivered an incredible performance, leading his team with a dominant 33-point, 22-rebound double-double in his first-ever EASL game. KCC, on the other hand, was paced by former Oklahoma City Thunder player Deonte Burton, who posted 26 points and nine rebounds. However, Burton fouled out with about four minutes remaining, disrupting KCC's offensive rhythm down the stretch.

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Both teams meet again on Dec. 18. KCC will be strengthened by the return of former Korean Basketball League (KBL) MVP Choi Jun Yong, but it must avoid being overly reliant on Burton. Defensively, they will also need to contain Mitchell, who remains the biggest threat to KCC preventing Meralco from completing a regular-season sweep.

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Building On History

After the Meralco took down the Busan KCC Egis in their first meeting on Nov. 13, the Bolts became the first-ever Philippine side to win two regular-season EASL games. On Dec. 18, they'll have a chance to capture a third win and push for a Final Four berth.

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Meralco's victory over Busan KCC on Nov. 13 marked a historic achievement for the franchise, as their two wins set a new franchise-high in an EASL season, surpassing their total of just one win in the 2023-24 season.

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The win was also significant for Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) teams in the EASL, as it set a new record for the most wins by a PBA team in the league, surpassing last year's performance when both the Bolts and the TNT Tropang Giga finished with 1-5 records.

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Now, in their upcoming second matchup with Busan KCC, Meralco has a chance to build on that history. While it's still too early to predict if the Bolts can make the Final Four if they improve to 3-1 on Dec. 18, their chances would significantly increase. Clinching four wins would almost guarantee a top-two finish.

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And even if Meralco ends the regular season 3-3, they could still advance through a tiebreaker. Ultimately, this away game against Busan could have a major impact on both the Bolts' season and the future of Filipino basketball in Asia.

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Busan KCC Egis’ Players To Watch:

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#15 Deonte Burton — Forward, 6-foot-4

2024-25 EASL Averages: 33.0 points, 6.3 assists, 7.0 rebounds
2024-25 KBL Season Averages: 17.1 points, 3.4 assists, 8.1 rebounds
Burton joined KCC in 2024
Burton spent time in the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2018-2020) and the Sacramento Kings (2023)
2018 KBL Foreign MVP
Burton began his professional career with the KBL’s Wonju DB Promy
Burton went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft
2017 Second-Team All-Big 12
2016 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year
2014 Big East All-Rookie Team
Burton attended Marquette (2013-2015) and Iowa State (2015-2017)
Burton is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

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#33 Lee Seoung Hyun — Forward, 6-foot-6