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

Meralco make EASL debut in Okinawa

November 15, 2023 – Okinawa Arena, Okinawa, Japan‍

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Storylines‍

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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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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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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