RYUKYU Golden Kings repeated over the Meralco Bolts, 89-71, to formally clinch the Group B top seed in the East Asia Super League (EASL) Home And Away Season 2 at the Philsports Arena Wednesday night.
The Japanese-based team went full throttle in the second period by outscoring the home team, 27-19, and took control of the game the rest of the way.
A 77-74 winner over the same team in Okinawa last October, the Kings ended their group stage campaign with a 5-1 record and headed to the Final Four in Macau this coming March as the no. 1 seed in their group.
Playing without import Akil Mitchell, the loss hurt the Bolts' Final Four bid as they fell at fourth place with a 2-3 record, trailing second place New Taipei Kings (3-2) and Macau Black Bears (3-3).
The reigning PBA Philippine Cup champion now faces a must-win in its final outing against the Taipei Kings in Taiwan on Feb. 12 in the hope of forging a three-way tie for the last Final Four berth in Group B.
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Mitchell had some back issue as disclosed by active team consultant Nenad Vucinic and didn't see action, although he was in uniform and watched the game on the bench.
He averaged 25 points and 20 rebounds in the two games he played for the Bolts in the tournament.
Cliff Hodge and Ange Kouame led the way for Meralco in Mitchell's absence with 13 points apiece, while Chris Newsome was the other to finish in double figures with 12.
In contrast, the Golden Kings' three imports all contributed in double figures for a combined 57 points led by the 20 of Victor Law. (RG)
The scores
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Ryukyu (89) - Law 20, Kirk 19, Aluma 18, Kishimoto 12, Matsuwaki 12, Onodera 6, Ito 2, Tsukamoto 0, Eumatsu 0, Arakawa 0, Waki 0, Taira 0.
Meralco (71) - Hodeg 13, Kouame 13, Newsome 12, Banchero 9, Bates 6, Cansino 6, Quinto 5, Rios 3, Kennedy 3, Almazan 1, Caram 0.
Quarterscores: 23-22; 50-41; 75-56; 89-71.
