Hollis-Jefferson debut for Meralco ends in shut loss to Japan’s Ryukyu

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Meralco run out of steam towards Japan B. League membership Ryukyu Golden Kings of their EASL opener because the Bolts miss the companies of Gilas Pilipinas naturalized star Justin Brownlee

MANAMA, Bahrain – An all-around effort by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson went for naught as Meralco dropped its opening task within the East Asia Tremendous League, absorbing an 81-72 highway loss to the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Japan on Wednesday, October 22.

The previous NBA participant and three-time PBA Greatest Import churned out 25 factors, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and a couple of blocks in his debut for the Bolts, who missed the companies of Gilas Pilipinas naturalized star Justin Brownlee and Iranian import Sina Vahedi.

Puerto Rican import Ismael Romero backstopped Hollis-Jefferson with 13 factors, 11 rebounds, and a couple of steals within the loss that noticed Meralco run out of steam with two minutes remaining.

A Chris Newsome triple pulled the Bolts inside 72-74 earlier than the Golden Kings — the runners-up within the earlier Japan B. League season — closed the sport out on a 7-0 ending run.

Ryo Sadohara scored 5 straight factors in that stretch, sinking a pair of free throws then a three-pointer to place Ryukyu forward 79-72 as Meralco noticed its comeback hopes vanish after Hollis-Jefferson airballed a trey within the ensuing possession.

Star guard Ryuichi Kishimoto sealed the win with two free throws and completed with a team-high 22 factors, 8 assists, and 4 steals to tempo the Golden Kings, who improved to 1-1 in Group B after shedding to the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots of their event opener. 

Newsome had 12 factors, 5 assists, and three rebounds, whereas CJ Cansino provided 11 factors within the loss. 

With out Brownlee, the Bolts missed out on a dynamic pairing of the Barangay Ginebra import and Hollis-Jefferson, who’ve battled it out on the most important phases as they confronted off thrice for a PBA championship and as soon as for an Asian Video games gold medal.

Hollis-Jefferson received all PBA title duels with TNT, whereas Brownlee steered the Philippines to the Asian Video games crown once they beat Jordan in 2023.

Vahedi would have additionally been an enormous addition, contemplating he made the All-Event Group within the earlier FIBA Asia Cup, the place led Iran to the bronze.

On this EASL version, groups can area as much as 4 reinforcements: two worldwide imports, one Asian import, and one naturalized participant.

Meralco will play one other highway sport because it visits Taoyuan in Taiwan on November 2. – Rappler.com