Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome during an East Asia Super League (EASL) game against New Taipei Kings. –EASL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Meralco absorbed a heartbreaking double overtime loss to New Taipei Kings on Wednesday night and lost out on a seat in the East Asia Super League (EASL) Final Four.
The visiting Bolts dropped a 109-96 decision at Tian-Mu Campus Gymnasium in Taipei as the New Taipei King secured spot in the semifinals and send Meralco packing.
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This was just days after Meralco received the boot from Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals, as well.
PBA: PBA: Ginebra ousts Meralco, advances to semis vs top team NorthPort
The hometome Kings led by just one, 97-96, with a minute and 46 seconds left in the second overtime and the Bolts had all the opportunities to tie or take the lead in the waning seconds.
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Joseph Lin, however, had different plans, as unloaded a long-range bomb to keep Meralco at bay, 100-96, with 1:09 to go.
Desperate for another comeback run, the Bolts fumbled the ball and gave rise to a Lee Kai-Yan fast break layup to ultimately seal the deal, 102-96, with 53.6 seconds to go.
The Bolts threw everything but the kitchen sink in overtime, including a Jansen Rios triple that sent the game to a 91-all deadlock with 0.8 to go, setting up the thrilling finalè.
READ: PBA: Justin Brownlee, Ginebra not surprised by tough Meralco act
It was the opposite during regulation when it was s the Kings who were in chase down mode, trailing Meralco 72-63 in the 6:50 mark of the fourth quarter.
Lin, who finished with 19 points and seven assists, uncorked a triple that started a 15-6 New Taipei flurry that sent the game to overtime.
Sani Sakakini led the Kings with a monster outing of 31 points and 12 rebounds. Former NBA journeyman Austin Daye had a double-double himself with 24 points and 12 rebounds to help New Taipei improve to a 3-3 card and a spot in the Final Four.
DJ Kennedy spearheaded the Bolts in the defeat that sent them to 2-4 in the EASL with 21 points and eight rebounds while Chris Newsome finished with 17 points
Earlier, the San Miguel Beermen continued their EASL woes losing to Suwon KT Sonicboom, 94-81, at Suwon Arena.
Without June Mar Fajardo, who’s attending to Gilas duties, the Beermen backed on Jeron Teng who finished with 17 points but to no avail.
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Former Terrafirma standouts Juami Tionsgon and Andreas Cahilig dropped 14 and 12 points, respectively, but it was all for naught as the Beermen ended their EASL run without a win after six games.
Rayshaun Hammonds dominated for Suwon with 19 points while Choe Jingwang and Ismael Romero scattered 15 points each in the win that sent the KT Sonicboom to a 3-3 card.
