A surge of energy ignited Meralco’s campaign in the East Asia Super League, culminating in an 85-76 victory over Taiwan’s Taoyuan Pauian Pilots. The win, secured Saturday night in Ilagan City, marked a crucial turning point for the Philippine club.
The catalyst for this turnaround was the long-awaited debut of Iranian playmaker Sina Vahedi. The highly-regarded import delivered a dazzling performance, scoring 22 points, dishing out seven assists, and grabbing two rebounds, instantly electrifying the Bolts and their enthusiastic home crowd.
Vahedi’s arrival had been delayed by visa complications, forcing him to miss Meralco’s initial two games – losses against Ryukyu Golden Kings and Taoyuan. His impact was immediate, transforming the team’s offensive flow and providing a much-needed spark.
“I’m so happy to finally join the team and win the game,” Vahedi expressed after being named Player of the Game. His words echoed the relief and excitement felt throughout the Capital Arena.
Meralco seized control early, launching an 11-2 run that established the tone for the entire contest. This aggressive start unsettled Taoyuan, who entered the game with an unblemished record, and propelled the Bolts towards a vital victory.
Ismail Romero mirrored Vahedi’s scoring output with 22 points, adding 14 rebounds to his impressive stat line. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also shone brightly, contributing 15 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, and reaching a significant milestone by joining the EASL’s 200-point club.
Ange Kouame stepped up admirably, filling in for the ailing Justin Brownlee as Meralco’s naturalized player. He provided crucial interior defense and added three points and four rebounds in a solid debut performance.
The win lifted Meralco’s record to 1-2, placing them behind the Golden Kings (1-1) in Group B, while Taoyuan fell to 2-1. Meralco now looks ahead to a November 15th matchup against the Macau Black Bears at the Cebu Coliseum, aiming to build on this momentum.
Meralco: Vahedi 22, Romero 22, Hollis-Jefferson 15, Newsome 14, Quinto 3, Kouame 3, Banchero 2, Almazan 2, Hodge 2
Taoyuan: Millner 19, Lu 17, Artino 15, Brown 9, Li 7, Kuan 5, Pai 2, Lin 2, Morrison 0, Dieng 0, Cheng 0
Quarter Scores: 23-14; 43-30; 66-50; 85-76
