GAME NOTES: GROUP B — Ryukyu Golden Kings (0-0) vs. Meralco Bolts (1-0)

October 16, 2024 — Okinawa Arena, Okinawa, Japan

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Storylines:

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1. Renewed Rivalry

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During East Asia Super League’s inaugural 2023-24 season, Ryukyu and Meralco matched up twice in Group B. In their first meeting on Nov. 15, 2023, the Golden Kings won 89-61 behind Keita Imamura’s game-high 19 points.

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In their second game a month later, however, the Bolts clinched a thrilling 97-88 overtime victory. Despite trailing Ryukyu 80-76 with seconds left in regulation, Meralco star Chris Newsome converted a four-point play from the right corner to tie the contest. From there, the Bolts held on to pick up their first-ever EASL win.

On Wednesday, Oct. 16, the Golden Kings open their 2024-25 EASL campaign against Meralco.

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It might be a new season, but both teams will be ready to ink another chapter in this young rivalry.

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2. Allen Durham’s Return

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Allen Durham — Meralco’s new import addition — has spent the last three seasons with Ryukyu. From 2021-2024 the 6-foot-6 forward played for the Golden Kings, helping them win their first-ever B.LEAGUE championship and earning Finals MVP honors along the way. 

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During the 2023-24 EASL season, Durham played a key role for Ryukyu. In the Golden Kings’ comfortable 89-61 win over Meralco, he totaled team-highs of nine rebounds and six assists. Then, in a bout with the New Taipei Kings on Jan. 24, Durham registered a game-high 21 points in a 90-67 Ryukyu triumph.

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Now with Meralco, Durham notched 17 points on 53.9% shooting from the floor in the Bolts’ EASL opener on Oct. 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena against the Macau Black Bears. He also pulled down 11 rebounds. Once hailed a hero at Okinawa Arena, Durham will return to Ryukyu’s home court donning Meralco’s navy and orange.

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3. Big Man Battle

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Meralco’s naturalized star Ange Kouame had a solid EASL debut against the Macau Black Bears on Oct. 2. He tallied nine points and nine rebounds while holding opposing 7-foot-6 star Sam Deguara to 40% shooting. But against Ryukyu, the young center will have his hands full again.

Headlined by veteran big man Jack Cooley, the Golden Kings have an intimidating, three-pronged frontcourt.

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Recently natrualized center Alex Kirk is a 2,000+ career rebounder and provides a monster presence in the paint. New addition, and former Virginia Tech standout, Keve Aluma is a versatile two-way forward, who has gotten off to a hot start in his first three B.LEAGUE contests. And Cooley — now in his fifth season with Ryukyu — possesses a myriad of post moves and averaged 10.7 points in EASL last year.

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Whoever wins the battle down low between Meralco and the Golden Kings could be a deciding factor in Wednesday’s game.

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Ryukyu Golden Kings (Japan — B.LEAGUE) Players to Watch:

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#14 Ryuichi Kishimoto — Guard, 5-foot-7

• 2023-24 EASL Averages
  • 8.5 points, 4.0 assists, 1.8 rebounds
• 2024-25 B.LEAGUE Averages
  • 12.5 points, 4.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds
• 2022-23 B.LEAGUE Champion
• 2x bj League Champion (2013-14, 2015-16)
• 2013-14 bj League Playoff MVP
• Joined the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Jan., 2013.
• Kishimoto attended Daito Bunka University
• Kishimoto is from Nago City, Okinawa, Japan.

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#45 Jack Cooley — Forward, 6-foot-9

• 2023-24 EASL Averages
  • 10.7 points, 3.0 assists, 10.3 rebounds
• 2024-25 B.LEAGUE Averages
  • 10.3 points, 1.8 assists, 9.0 rebounds
• 2022-23 B.LEAGUE Champion
• Joined the Ryukyu Golden Kings in 2019
• 2019 FIBA Europe Cup Champion with Dinamo Sassari (ITA)
• 2012 Second-Team All-Big East with Notre Dame
• 2012 Big East Most Improved Player with Notre Dame
• Cooley spent time with the Utah Jazz (2015) and the Sacramento Kings (2017-18) after going undrafted in 2013.
• Cooley attended college at the University of Notre Dame (2009-2013)
• Cooley is from Evanston, Illinois, USA.

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#4 Vic Law — Guard, 6-foot-7

• 2023-24 EASL Averages
  • 19.0 points, 5.0 assists, 10.3 rebounds
• 2024-25 B.LEAGUE Averages
  • 16.0 points, 3.3 assists, 9.5 rebounds
• Joined the Ryukyu Golden Kings in 2023-24
• Played for the B.LEAGUE’s Chiba Jets during the 2022-23 season
• 2022 All-NBL (AUS, NZL) First Team
• 2020 All-NBA G-League Third Team
• 2017 Big-Ten All-Defensive Team with Northwestern University
• Law spent time with the Orlando Magic (2020) after going undrafted in 2019
• Law attended college at Northwestern (2014-2019)
• Law is from Chicago, Illinois, USA.

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Meralco Bolts (Philippines — PBA) Players to Watch:

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#11 Chris Newsome — Guard, 6-foot-2

• 2024-25 EASL Averages
  • 18 points, 6.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds
• 2024 PBA Averages
  • 17.5 points, 4.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds
• Joined the Meralco Bolts in 2015
• 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
• Selected as the 4th overall pick in the 2015 PBA Draft
• 2014 National Collegiate Mythical Team
• Newsome attended college at New Mexico Highlands and Ateneo de Manila 
• Newsome is from San Jose, California, USA.

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#6 Christopher Banchero — Guard, 6-foot-1

• 2024-25 EASL Averages
  • 14.0 points, 1.0 assists, 1.0 rebounds
• 2024 PBA Averages
  • 12.0 points, 3.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds
• 2024 PBA Champion
• Joined the Meralco Bolts in 2022
• 2019 PBA All-Star
• 2015 PBA All-Rookie Team
• Selected as the 5th overall pick in the 2014 PBA Draft
• 2013 ABL (ASEAN Basketball League) Champion
• 2013 ABL Finals MVP
• 2011 NCAA Division II National Player of the Year
• 2010 NCAA Division II All-American
• Banchero attended college at Seattle Pacific.
• Banchero is from Seattle, Washington, USA.

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#9 DJ Kennedy — Forward, 6-foot-6

• 2024-25 EASL Averages
  • 17.0 points, 7.0 assists, 9.0 rebounds
• 2022 BIBL Champion with Hapoel Galil Elyon
• 2019 Italian League Champion with Reyer Venezia
• 2018 BCL Rebounding Leader with Pinar Karsiyaka
• 2018 BCL Star Lineup Best Team with Pinar Karsiyaka
• 2016 FIBA Europe Cup Starting Five with Enisey
• 2015 All-BBL First Team with BG Ludwigsburg
• 2015 BBL Best Offensive Player with BG Ludwigsburg
• 2015 BBL Scoring Champion with BG Ludwigsburg
• 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
• Kennedy went undrafted in the 2011 NBA Draft
• Kennedy attended college at St. John’s University (2007-2011).
• Kennedy is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

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Ryukyu Golden Kings By the Numbers:

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Team History

• Founded in 2007
• 2022-23 B.LEAGUE Champions
• 4x bj League Champions (2009, 2012, 2014, 2016)
• 6x bj League Western Conference Champions
• 2018 EASL The Terrific 12 Champions

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games

• Home vs. Meralco Bolts (PBA) — Oct. 16, 2024
• Away vs. Macau Black Bears (Macau SAR) — Oct. 30, 2024
• Home vs. Busan KCC Egis (KBL) — Dec. 4, 2024
• Home vs. New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+) — Dec. 25, 2024
• Away vs. New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+) — Jan. 8, 2025
• Away vs. Meralco Bolts (PBA) — Jan. 22, 2025

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2023-24 EASL Results

• Finished 3rd in Group B
• Group stage record: 3-3
• 80-79 win over Seoul SK Knights (KBL) — Nov. 1, 2023
• 82-69 loss against Seoul SK Knights (KBL) — Nov. 15, 2023
• 89-61 win over Meralco Bolts (PBA) — Dec. 13, 2023
• 67-63 loss against New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+) — Jan. 10, 2024
• 90-67 win over New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+) — Jan. 24, 2024

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2023-24 EASL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Vic Law — 19 ppg
• Rebounds: Jack Cooley, Vic Law — 10.3 rpg
• Assists: Allen Durham — 5.3 apg
• Steals: Jack Cooley — 1.3 spg
• Blocks: Allen Durham — 1.3 bpg

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2023-2024 B.LEAGUE Runners-Up

• Regular season record: 41-19
• Finished 2nd in B.LEAGUE Western Conference
• Defeated Alvark Tokyo (2-1) and the Chiba Jets (2-1) but lost to the Hiroshima Dragonflies (2-1) in the B.LEAGUE Finals

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2023-24 B.LEAGUE Statistic Leaders

• Points: Jack Cooley — 14.4 ppg
• Rebounds: Jack Cooley — 10.8 rpg
• Assists: Allen Durham — 4.1 apg
• Steals: Keita Imamura, Jack Cooley — 0.9 spg
• Blocks: Jack Cooley — 0.8 bpg

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Meralco Bolts By the Numbers:

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Team History

• Founded in 2010
• 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Champions

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games

• Away vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) — Oct. 16, 2025
• Home vs. Busan KCC Egis (KBL) — Nov. 13, 2024
• Away vs. Busan KCC Egis (KBL) — Dec. 18, 2024
• Home vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) — Jan. 22, 2025
• Away vs. New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+) — Feb. 12, 2025

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2024-25 EASL Results

• 1st in Group B
• Group stage record: 1-0
• 97-85 win against Macau Black Bears (Macau) — Oct. 2, 2024

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2024-25 EASL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Chris Newsome — 18.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Allen Durham — 11.0 rpg
• Assists: DJ Kennedy — 7.0 apg
• Steals: Chris Newsome — 3.0 spg
• Blocks: DJ Kennedy, Ange Kouame, Antonio Jose Caram — 1.0 bpg

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2023-24 PBA Champions

• Elimination round record: 6-5
• Finished 3rd in Elimination round
• Defeated NLEX Road Warriors (2-0), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (4-3) and the San Miguel Beermen (4-2) to win the 2024 Philippine Cup Championship

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2023-2024 PBA Statistic Leaders

• Points: Chris Newsome — 15.4 ppg
• Rebounds: Cliff Hodge — 8.4 rpg
• Assists: Chris Newsome — 4.7 apg
• Steals: Cliff Hodge — 1.6 spg
• Blocks: Cliff Hodge — 1.4 bpg