MERALCO vies for the remaining Final Four berth in the East Asia Super League (EASL) Home and Away Season 2 as it battles New Taipei Kings on Wednesday.
The match is set for 7 p.m. at the University of Taipei. The winner will earn a ticket to Macau in the March 7-9 semifinals.
The Bolts are currently in fourth place in Group B with a 2-3 slate, while the Kings are in second place with a 3-2 record.
A Meralco win will forge a three-way logjam at 3-3 in Group B together with the Kings and Macau Black Bears but gets the right to advance due to a superior quotient.
The Bolts are coming off a heartbreaking 94-87 loss to Barangay Ginebra in their sudden-death game last Sunday, which knocked them off the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.
The day after, the entire team left for the Chinese Taipei capital.
Unfortunately, import Akil Mitchell is doubtful for the game after aggravating his back spasm with a groin injury during Game 3 of the Meralco-Ginebra series.
Mitchell, who averaged 25 points and 20 rebounds in the EASL, limped his way the entire game and finished with just eight points on 2-of-11 shooting but added 12 rebounds and three assists.
“I hope he can (play),” said Trillo of the situation surrounding Mitchell.
The Bolts will still have their other imports, DJ Kennedy and naturalized player Ange Kouame. Chris Newsome is also seeing action and will join Gilas Pilipinas in its training camp in Doha, Qatar, the day after the game.
“We still have a chance to win this game and end up in the Final Four. And I don’t want to leave my brothers whenever they can make it to the semis,” said Newsome, who finished with a team-high 22 points in a losing cause against Ginebra.
A huge break for Meralco though, is the likely absence of New Taipei star player Jeremy Lin, who’s been out of action since Jan. 21 with a right hamstring injury.
In his absence, his younger brother Joseph Lin and import Kenny Manigault are expected to carry the load for the home team.
Meanwhile, in South Korea, San Miguel tries to end the season on a winning note by taking on Suwon KT at the Sonicboom Arena.
The Beermen are the only winless team in Group A with a 0-5 record and will be missing two key players: June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez. They are with the Gilas Pilipinas team in its training camp at Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna.
The Sonicboom is no longer in contention for a Final Four berth with their 2-3 record but will look to finish their campaign on a bright note.
Suwon KT will also parade two-time UAAP champion and Finals MVP JD Cagulangan of the University of the Philippines.