February 10, 2025 — Tian-Mu Campus Gymnasium, University of Taipei, Taipei City

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Where to Watch:

The New Taipei Kings and the Meralco Bolts tip off at 19:10 CT. Here’s where you can catch the game! 

Chinese Taipei:

Watch the game live on Videoland (pay TV), Videoland’s Twitch and YouTube Channels, or watch via the streaming platform, PTS+ (OTT).

The 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.

Outside These Regions:

Visit the ‘Watch’ tab on the EASL website to find streaming options in your area.

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Get Your Tickets 

Get your tickets now at https://newtaipeikings.kktix.cc/events/8c521bad.

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Storylines:

Win and You’re In

Another must-win showdown is set on Wednesday in Chinese Taipei.

After the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots secured a spot in the EASL Final Four by defeating Hong Kong Eastern last week, the New Taipei Kings and the Meralco Bolts will battle for the final berth.

The Kings opened the season with a stunning home loss to EASL newcomers, the Macau Black Bears. They avenged that defeat at the Macau Classic but fell to 1-2 after a tough loss to Group B winners, the Ryukyu Golden Kings. However, back-to-back victories propelled them to 3-2. Now, they aim to avoid an early exit as they face the Bolts, a team they defeated twice last season.

Meralco started the season strong at 2-1 with wins over the Macau Black Bears and the Busan KCC Egis. The Bolts appeared poised for a 3-1 record, leading by 13 with three minutes left in a Dec. 18 rematch against KCC. However, KCC’s Heo Ung orchestrated a stunning 14-0 run, handing Meralco a heartbreaking loss. An 18-point blowout against Ryukyu dropped them to 2-3.

With head-to-head results as the first tiebreaker and this being their only meeting of the season, a Meralco win would tie both teams at 3-3 and send the Bolts to the Final Four. That makes this a must-win for both sides.

Who will punch their ticket to Macau?

JLin7: In or Out?

Jeremy Lin has been sidelined since Jan. 21 with a right hamstring injury suffered against KCC. He gingerly exited the game after backing into a defender in the post.

Injuries have plagued Lin in the EASL before. Last season, he missed the final two group-stage games and the Final Four with a plantar fascia injury. The Kings had already clinched their Final Four spot before his absence last season, but this year, they need all hands on deck.

Will Lin return in time to lead his team to the Final Four?

Another Do-or-Die Game for Meralco

The Meralco Bolts were eliminated from the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals on Sunday, losing their best-of-three series 2-1 to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

In the decisive Game 3, the Bolts led by as much as 13 points, but their advantage disappeared by the third quarter. They fought back to cut the deficit to one, but ultimately fell short and crashed out of the PBA playoffs. Chris Newsome scored a team-high 22 points, but EASL standout Akil Mitchell, who is averaging 25 points and 20 rebounds in the EASL season, scored just 8 points in the contest.

Now, they face another must-win scenario. Can they bounce back and keep their EASL hopes alive?

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New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+ — Chinese Taipei) Players to Watch:

#1 Joseph Lin, Guard, 6-foot-1

• 2024-25 EASL Averages: 10.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists
• 3x P. LEAGUE+ Champion (Taipei Fubon Braves 2020-21, 2021-22; New Taipei Kings 2023-24)
• 2023 P. LEAGUE+ First Team with New Taipei Kings
• 2024 P. LEAGUE+ Second Team with New Taipei Kings
• 2024 P. LEAGUE+ Assist King with New Taipei Kings
• Joined the New Taipei Kings in 2022
• Lin attended college at Hamilton College
• Lin is from Paolo Alto, California, USA

#31 Sani Sakakini, Forward, 6-feet-8

• 2024-25 EASL Averages: 17.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists
• 2x All-Jordanian League First Team with Al Riyadi Amman and Sarriyet Ramallah (2010, 2013)
• 2013 All-Jordanian League Center with Sarriyet Ramallah (Jordan)
• 2x Palestinian Basketball League Champion (2013, 2021)
• 2014 All-Chinese CBA Third Team with Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles (China)
• 2015 Jordanian League Champion with Orthodox Club (Jordan)
• 2015 All-Asian Championships Second Team with Orthodox Club (Jordan)
• 2x All-Chinese CBA Honorable Mentions with Jiangsu Tongxi and Tianjin Ronggang (2016, 2017)
• 2022 All-T1 League First Team with Taichung Wagor Suns (Chinese Taipei)
• Joined the New Taipei Kings in 2024
• Sakakini is from Ramallah, Palestine

#55 Kenny Manigault, Forward, 6-foot-5

• 2024-25 EASL Averages: 19.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 4.2 steals
• 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Champion with New Taipei Kings
• 2023 P. LEAGUE+ Second Team with New Taipei Kings
• 2x P. LEAGUE+ Steals King (2023, 2024)
• Joined the New Taipei Kings in 2022
• Manigault attended college at the University of South Carolina, Aiken, and the University of Pikeville.
• Manigault is from North Charleston, South Carolina, USA

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Meralco Bolts (Philippines — PBA) Players to Watch:

#25 Akil Mitchell — Center, 6-foot-9

• 2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 25.0 points, 20.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists
• Mitchell has played professionally in France, Australia, Italy, Israel, Turkey, Greece, Puerto Rico and China 
• 2024 BSN Champion with Criollos de Caguas (Puerto Rico) 
• 2023 All-Champions League First Team with AEK Athens (Greece)
• 2023 All-Champions League Defensive Team with AEK Athens (Greece)
• 2022 Greek League All-Star with AEK Athens (Greece)
• Mitchell played for the NBA G-League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Houston Rockets, 2014-2015) and Long Island Nets (Brooklyn Nets, 2017-2018)
• 2014 All-ACC Defensive Team with the University of Virginia
• 2013 Third-Team All-ACC with the University of Virginia
• Joined the Meralco Bolts in 2024
• Mitchell attended the University of Virginia (2010-2014) 
• Mitchell is from Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

#11 Chris Newsome — Guard, 6-foot-2

• 2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 12.2points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists
• 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Champion
• 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals MVP
• 2x PBA All-Star (2023, 2024)
• 2024 PBA First Mythical Team
• 2x PBA All-Defensive Team (2023, 2024)
• 2017 PBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
• 2016 PBA Rookie of the Year 
• 2016 PBA All-Rookie Team
• 2015 PBA D-League Champion
• Joined the Meralco Bolts in 2015
• Selected as the 4th overall pick in the 2015 PBA Draft
• 2014 National Collegiate Mythical Team
• Newsome attended New Mexico Highlands and Ateneo de Manila 
• Newsome is from San Jose, California, USA.

#9 DJ Kennedy — Forward, 6-foot-6

• 2024-25 EASL Averages: 17.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists
• 2022 BIBL Champion with Hapoel Galil Elyon (Israel)
• 2019 Italian League Champion with Reyer Venezia (Italy)
• 2018 BCL Rebounding Leader with Pinar Karsiyaka (Turkey)
• 2018 BCL Star Lineup Best Team with Pinar Karsiyaka (Turkey)
• 2016 FIBA Europe Cup Starting Five with Enisey (Russia)
• 2015 All-BBL First Team with BG Ludwigsburg (Germany)
• 2015 BBL Best Offensive Player with BG Ludwigsburg (Germany)
• 2015 BBL Scoring Champion with BG Ludwigsburg (Germany)
• 2013 NBA D-League Champion with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers
• 2013 NBA D-League All-Star with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers
• 2013 All-NBA D-League Third Team with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers
• Joined the Meralco Bolts in 2024 
• Kennedy attended St. John’s University (2007-2011)
• Kennedy is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

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New Taipei Kings By the Numbers:

Team History

• Founded in 2021 
• 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Champions

2024-25 EASL Results 

• 2nd in Group B 
• Group stage record: 3-2 
• Game 1: 109-97 loss against Macau Black Bears (Macau SAR) — Oct. 23, 2024 
• Game 2: 114-95 win against Macau Black Bears (Macau SAR) — Dec. 11, 2024 
• Game 3: 82-74 loss against Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) — Dec. 25, 2024 
• Game 4: 99-63 win against Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) — Jan. 8, 2025
• Game 5: 104-87 win against Busan KCC Egis (KBL) — Jan. 21, 2025

2024-25 EASL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Jeremy Lin & Kenny Manigault Jr.— 19.4 ppg 
• Rebounds: Kenny Manigault Jr. — 9.0 rpg
• Assists: Kenny Manigaults Jr. — 5.6 apg
• Steals: Kenny Manigault Jr. — 4.2 spg
• Blocks: Jason Washburn — 1.0 bpg

2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games

• Home vs. Meralco Bolts (PBA) — Feb. 12, 2025

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Meralco Bolts By the Numbers:

Team History

• Founded in 2010
• 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Champions

2024-25 EASL Results

• 4th in Group B 
• Group stage record: 2-3
• Game 1: 97-85 win against Macau Black Bears (Macau SAR) — Oct. 2, 2024 
• Game 2: 77-74 loss against Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) — Oct. 16, 2024 
• Game 3: 81-80 win against Busan KCC Egis (KBL) — Nov. 13, 2024 
• Game 4: 72-68 loss against Busan KCC Egis (KBL) — Dec. 18, 2024
• Game 5: 89-71 loss against Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) — Jan. 22, 2025

2024-25 EASL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Akil Mitchell — 25.0 ppg 
• Rebounds: Akil Mitchell — 20.0 rpg 
• Assists: Chris Newsome — 3.8 apg
• Steals: CJ Cansino — 2.0 spg
• Blocks: Kakou Kouame — 1.4 bpg

2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games

• Away vs. New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+) — Feb. 12, 2025