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

November 15, 2023 – Okinawa Arena, Okinawa, Japan‍

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Storylines‍

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1. Can Meralco prove they belong?

PBA Governors’ Cup semifinalists Meralco Bolts will make their EASL 2023-24 Season debut on Wednesday as they take on the B.LEAGUE champions Ryukyu Golden Kings.

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Meralco, founded in 2010, are one of the newer teams in Asian basketball and enter EASL as undoubted underdogs.

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Compounding their challenge, they will enter this game without Suleiman Braimoh, their standout player so far this season. Braimoh has recorded 74 points and 30 rebounds in Meralco’s first two PBA games.

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Braimoh won’t be suiting up for Meralco on Wednesday due to issues related to his travel documentation. Former Texas Longhorn Prince Ibeh will take his place.

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Meralco can also rely on 2023 PBA All-Star Chris Newsome, who had a strong start to the PBA season with 20 points in the first game.

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Speaking to local media ahead of his team’s first game in EASL, Meralco Bolts Head Coach Luigi Trillo said, “We’ll try to do our best there. We’re not going to raise the white flag. It’s a chance for us to show also what we can do. Overall, it’s exciting to be in the EASL. It’s an opportunity for us.”

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Can Meralco prove they deserve their place among Asia’s best?

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2. Allen Durham faces his former team

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Ryukyu Golden Kings power forward Allen Durham has had a storied career, including a four-year stint at Meralco from 2016 to 2020.

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Durham will have some fond memories of Meralco, as he was a three-time winner of the PBA Best Import of the Conference award. He helped the Bolts make it to the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals in three straight seasons, although the team fell short every time.

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The 35-year-old has played well for the Golden Kings this season. He scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out seven assists in Ryukyu’s last EASL game against Seoul SK Knights. Durham is also averaging 13.9 points and 7.6 rebounds in 14 B.LEAGUE games.

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3. Can Meralco stop Ryukyu’s superior paint presence?

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The Golden Kings rely heavily on their import bigs to conduct the flow of the game. While the team is averaging just 34 rebounds a game in EASL, they are fourth in the B.LEAGUE, averaging 41.9 rebounds a game.

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Last season, the Golden Kings led the B.LEAGUE with 42.0 rebounds per game. Jack Cooley spearheaded their paint presence at 12.7 rebounds per game. Cooley has yet to appear in an EASL game this season due to a knee injury that kept him out until late October. In seven B.LEAGUE games this season, Cooley is again leading the league with 12.9 rebounds per game, while also adding 15.7 points per game.

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Will Ryukyu go through the interior to take control of the game?

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By the Numbers

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Ryukyu Golden Kings

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- Team History:

• Founded: 2007
• 2022-23 B.LEAGUE Champions
• 2018 EASL Super 8 Champions
• 4x Japan bj league Champions (2009, 2012, 2014, 2016)

- 2023 B.LEAGUE Champions

• Regular season record: 48-12
• B.LEAGUE West District Champions
• Playoffs: defeated Nagoya Diamond Dolphins 2-0 in quarterfinals; defeated Yokohama B-Corsairs 2-0 in semifinals; defeated Chiba Jets 2-0 in B.LEAGUE Finals

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 1-1

• October 18, 2023: 80-79 win over Seoul SK Knights (KBL)
• November 1, 2023: 82-69 loss against Seoul SK Knights (KBL)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Keita Imamura – 16.5 ppg
• Rebounds: Vic Law – 13.0 rpg
• Assists: Allen Durham – 7.0 apg
• Steals: Allen Durham – 1.0 spg
• Blocks: Allen Durham – 2.0 bpg

- EASL 2023-24 Season upcoming games:

• Home vs. Meralco Bolts (PBA) – November 15, 2023
• Away vs. Meralco Bolts (PBA) – December 13, 2023
• Away vs. New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+) – January 10, 2024
• Home vs. New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+) – January 24, 2024

- EASL History:

• 2023 EASL Champions Week: Ryukyu Golden Kings went 2-1, defeating PBA side San Miguel Beermen 96-68 and P. LEAGUE+ side Taipei Fubon Braves 83-78 in the Group Stage. They lost to Bay Area Dragons 90-70 in the Third Place Game.
• 2019 Terrific 12 (an EASL competition): Ryukyu Golden Kings went 0-2, falling to CBA side Shenzhen Aviators and PBA side San Miguel Beermen.
• 2018 Terrific 12 (EASL competition): Ryukyu Golden Kings went 4-0, defeating the PBA D League All Stars and CBA side Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Group Stage. They defeated B.LEAGUE side Nagoya Diamond Dolphins in the semifinals before defeating CBA side Guangzhou Loong Lions in the Finals to win the tournament.
• 2017 Super 8 (EASL competition): Ryukyu Golden Kings went 3-2, defeating KBL side Goyang Orions, SBL (Super Basketball League – Chinese Taipei) side Taoyuan Pauian Archiland and CBA side Shenzhen Leopards in the Group Stage. They lost to CBA side Zhejiang Lions in the semifinals before losing to Goyang Orions in the Third Place Game.

- B.LEAGUE 2023-24 Season record: 11-3

• October 5, 2023: 80-63 win over Saga Ballooners
• October 7, 2023: 80-79 win over Saga Ballooners
• October 14, 2023: 93-86 win over Sun Rockers Shibuya
• October 15, 2023: 84-82 win over Sun Rockers Shibuya
• October 21, 2023: 89-66 loss against Yokohama B-Corsairs
• October 22, 2023: 88-70 win over Yokohama B-Corsairs
• October 25, 2023: 87-66 loss against Kawasaki Brave Thunders
• October 28, 2023: 84-65 win over Toyama Grouses
• October 29, 2023: 85-59 win over Toyama Grouses
• November 4, 2023: 81-76 loss against Osaka Evessa
• November 5, 2023: 94-76 win over Osaka Evessa
• November 8, 2023: 87-71 win over Kyoto Hannaryz
• November 11, 2023: 80-77 win over Shimane Susanoo Magic
• November 12, 2023: 91-84 win over Shimane Susanoo Magic

- B.LEAGUE 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Vic Law – 17.6 ppg
• Rebounds: Jack Cooley – 12.9 rpg
• Assists: Allen Durham – 4.1 apg
• Steals: Jack Cooley – 0.9 spg
• Blocks: Alex Kirk– 0.9 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 upcoming games:

• Away vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) – November 15, 2023
• 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

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

• Points: Suleiman Braimoh – 37.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Suleiman Braimoh – 15.0 rpg
• Assists: Chris Newsome – 4.5 apg
• Steals: Suleiman Braimoh – 2.5 spg
• Blocks: Suleiman Braimoh & Raymond Almazan – 1.0 bpg

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Players to Watch

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Ryukyu Golden Kings:

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#30 Keita Imamura – SG

- Japanese National Basketball Team (2018 Asian Games)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 16.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.0 apg

- 2023-24 B.LEAGUE season:

• 13.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.7 apg

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#45 Jack Cooley – C

- USA NCAA Division I: Notre Dame (2009-2013)

• 2013 First-team All-Big East
• 2012 Second-team All-Big East
• 2012 Big East Most Improved Player

- Former NBA player (Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings)

- Former NBA G League player (Idaho Stampede, Reno Bighorns)

- 2019 FIBA Europe Cup champion (Dinamo Sassari)

- 2023-24 B.LEAGUE season:

• 15.7 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 1.1 apg

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#7 Allen Durham – PF

- USA NCAA Division II: Grace Bible College (2006-2011)

• 3x NCCAA Champion (2009, 2010, 2011)
• 3x NCCAA DII National Tournament MVP (2009, 2010, 2011)
• Pete Maravich Memorial Award Recipient (2011)
• 3x NCCAA DII 1st-Team All-American (2009, 2010, 2011)
• Grace Bible's College All-Time Scoring Leader
• Grace Bible's College All-Time Rebounding Leader
• Grace Bible's College All-Time Blocks Leader
• Grace Bible's College Hall of Famer (2018)

- Former NBA G League Player (Texas Legends)

- Philippines: 3× PBA Best Import of the Conference (Meralco Bolts: 2016 Governors', 2017 Governors', 2019 Governors')

- France: Nantes

• LNB Pro B Defensive Player of the Year (2014)
• 2x LNB Pro B All-First Team (2014, 2015)
• 2x LNB Pro B All-Imports Team (2014, 2015)

- Israel: Israeli National League All-Star (Hapoel Afula: 2014)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 14.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 7.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 2.0 bpg

- 2023-24 B.LEAGUE season:

• 13.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 4.1 apg

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Meralco Bolts:

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#11 Chris Newsome – SG

- USA NCAA Division II: New Mexico Highlands (2008-11)

- Philippines NCAA UAAP: Ateneo de Manila (2013-14)

• 2014 UAAP Mythical Team

- 2015 PBA Draft: 4^th overall pick – Meralco Bolts

• 2023 PBA All-Star
• 2023 PBA All-Defensive Team
• 2016 PBA Rookie of the Year
• 2016 PBA All-Rookie Team
• 2017 PBA Slam Dunk Contest champion

- 2023-24 PBA Commissioners’ Cup season:

• 13.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.5 apg

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#0 Prince Ibeh – C

- USA NCAA Division I: Texas (2012-16)

• 2016 NCAA DI Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year

- Former NBA D League Player (Long Island Nets)

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#7 Cliff Hodge – PF

- USA NCAA Division II: Hawaii Pacific (2008-09)

- 2012 PBA Draft: 4^th overall pick – Meralco Bolts

• PBA Mythical Second Team (2017)
• 2× PBA All-Defensive Team (2021, 2023)

- 2023-24 PBA Commissioners’ Cup season:

• 9.5 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 1.0 apg