The Meralco Bolts are on the road for the first time in the 2024-25 East Asia Super League season, traveling to Okinawa to take on the B.LEAGUE's Ryukyu Golden Kings.
The Meralco Bolts travel to the Okinawa Arena to face the Ryukyu Golden Kings in a Group B showdown of the 2024-25 East Asia Super League (EASL) season on October 16.
Meralco comes into the game with momentum, having won its EASL opener at home against the Macau Black Bears last October 2.
[Related: Meralco vents ire on Macau in EASL after ‘tough’ PBA exit vs Ginebra]
Meanwhile, this will be Ryukyu’s first game of the EASL season, although the Golden Kings are already off to a solid start in Japan’s B.LEAGUE with a 3-1 record.
This matchup marks a reunion of sorts, as both teams were in the same EASL group last season.
In their previous encounters, they split the series, with Ryukyu winning at home in Okinawa and Meralco securing victory in its designated home game in Macau.
Adding another layer of intrigue is the presence of Allen Durham in Meralco's lineup. Durham, a key player for Ryukyu up until last season, now looks to lead the Bolts against his former team.
For the Bolts, this game also comes after the team’s elimination from the ongoing PBA Governors’ Cup, giving them an opportunity to focus fully on their EASL campaign.
With Ryukyu looking to extend its strong domestic form, this promises to be a competitive and exciting clash.
Tip off for Meralco-Ryukyu is set for 7:40 p.m., while the EASL will also feature another showdown in the October 16 game day with reigning B.LEAGUE champions Hiroshima Dragonflies taking on the Hong Kong Eastern at the F-PICO Arena.
The Hiroshima-Hong Kong tiff will start first at 7:10 p.m.
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[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]