What Happened 

A week after it fell to the Pilots at Taoyuan Arena, the Meralco Bolts took down the reigning EASL runners-up in Ilagan City, Isabela, the Philippines, 85–78, to improve to 1–2 on the season in Group B.

The story of the game was new Asian import Sina Vahedi, who played his first-ever EASL game and picked up Player of the Game honors. His 22 points led the Bolts, tied for the game-high with teammate Ismael Romero, who recorded his second straight 20-point game.

From the start, Meralco jumped out to a 23–14 lead after the first quarter and continued to build on its advantage, winning the second and third quarters by a combined seven points to push the lead to as much as 66–50 entering the fourth. The Pilots battled back and won the final quarter, but the closest they got was an 80–72 scoreline with under a minute left.

Turnovers made the difference. Taoyuan committed a season-high 17 to Meralco’s five, which turned into 11 steals for the Bolts in their first home game, while the Pilots had just two. Cliff Hodge and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led Meralco with three steals each.


What It Means

Taoyuan is undefeated no more, unable to extend its unbeaten start to 3–0. The Pilots still lead Group B at 2–1, the only team that still has a winning record. The loss, however, erased a chance at history, as a win would have made them the only team to start 3–0 in consecutive EASL seasons.

The Bolts picked up their first win of the season and their first against a team from Chinese Taipei, avoiding an  0–5 mark across their three straight seasons of EASL competition. They are now 1–2 in Group B.

After today’s game, the only teams that have played and remain undefeated are the Xac Broncos in Group C and the Taipei Fubon Braves in Group A.

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EASL Player Of The Game: Sina Vahidi 

Sina Vahedi did not come to play in his EASL debut. The Iranian point guard, Meralco’s Asian import for this EASL season, lived up to the hype, pouring in 22 points, seven assists, one steal, and shooting 50 percent from the field.

Vahedi, a signing Meralco kept mostly under wraps, had an outstanding summer, helping Iran finish third at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup while averaging a team-high 17.8 points, and was named to the tournament’s All-Star Five.

With three games left in the regular season and Meralco now at 1–2, Vahedi’s arrival could mark a turning point and signal a midseason push for a postseason spot in the “Group of Death.”

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Super Statistic: 200 

Tonight’s game was EASL’s first in Ilagan, Isabela, and it also turned into a record night for two league fan favorites. Taoyuan’s Lu Chun-Hsiang eclipsed 200 career points, joining Kenny Manigault (New Taipei Kings), Jameel Warney (Seoul SK Knights), Sani Sakakini (New Taipei Kings), and brothers Jeremy and Joseph Lin (New Taipei Kings). Lu reached the mark on a catch-and-shoot three early in the first half.

Joining him was Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who entered the 200-point club early in the second half with a left-wing three. Hollis-Jefferson played in the inaugural 2023–24 season with TNT Tropang Giga and finished with 145 points, the second most that season. He has added 62 points this season, including today. 

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Next Up 

The Meralco Bolts are right back at it next week, facing the Macau Black Bears at the Cebu Coliseum in Cebu, Philippines, on Saturday, November 15. This will be an EASL first, with all ticket proceeds going to support disaster victims in Northern Cebu.

For Taoyuan, the next game is not until December 14, when the Pilots host the Macau Black Bears at Taoyuan Arena.