Where: The Capital Arena, Ilagan City, Isabela

When: Saturday, December 6, 6 p.m. CST

Team Records: Meralco Bolts (2-2) / Macau Black Bears (0-1)

Where to Watch: Ticket Information / Broadcast Information 

‍

PROJECTED STARTERS 

‍Meralco Bolts 

PG: Sina Vahedi — 185cm / N/A

SG: Chris Newsome — 188cm / 86kg

SF: Cliff Hodge — 193cm / 88kg 

PF: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson — 198cm / 98kg

C: Ismael Romero — 203cm / 100kg

‍

Macau Black Bears

PG: Damian Chong Qui — 172cm / 70kg

SG: Phoenix Shackelford — 190cm / 86kg

SF: Lao Chong Pong — 191cm / N/A

PF: Omari Peek-Green  — 198cm / 99kg 

C: Samuel Deguara — 230cm / 130kg

‍

TEAM STATISTIC LEADERS 

Meralco Bolts 

Points: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson — 24.0 

Rebounds: Ismael Romero — 17.5 (1st) 

Assists: Sina Vahedi — 5.5 

Steals: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson — 1.8 

Blocks: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson — 2.5 

‍

Macau Black Bears 

Points: Damian Chong Qui — 25.0 

Rebounds: Phoenix Shackelford — 8.0 

Assists: Damian Chong Qui — 4.0 

Steals: Phoenix Shackelford — 3.0 

Blocks: Guo Yuchen — 1.0 

‍

THE RUNDOWN 

It’s a rematch of both teams’ last EASL games before the FIBA window, as the Macau Black Bears and Meralco Bolts head to The Capital Arena in Ilagan City, Isabela, Philippines, to face each other for the second straight time.

In their previous meeting, the Bolts cruised to a wire-to-wire 92-74 win in Cebu during EASL’s first-ever charity game, Basketball for Cebu, on November 15.

The story of that contest was simple. Meralco was bigger, stronger, faster and more athletic. The Bolts leaned on the stellar play of import Rondae Hollis Jefferson, who earned Player of the Game honors with 34 points, and Ismael Romero, who posted 25 points and an all-time EASL single-game record 28 rebounds, a performance that helped him secure EASL November Player of the Month.

This will be only Macau’s second game of the 2025 to 2026 EASL season. At 0-1, they sit at the bottom of Group B but still have time and games in hand to climb back into the picture, with a win here going a long way. 

For Meralco, the margin for error is smaller. This is already their fifth of six total games, but a victory would move them into positive territory at 3–2 and give them serious momentum with what would be a third straight win.

‍

THE BOLTS 

In their last game out, Meralco picked up a second straight win and moved to 2-2 on the season, showing they’re a much better team than what their early 0-2 start suggested.

A big part of this turnaround has been the addition of Asian import and Iranian international Sina Vahedi. While he had a quieter outing against Macau in Cebu, he played a major role in Meralco securing its first win of the season on November 8 at The Capital Arena in Ilagan City against the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, last season’s runners-up.

But after two games, it’s clear this bounceback hasn’t been about just one player. In their most recent outing, Meralco looked far more connected, with Vahedi, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Ismael Romero benefiting from more time on the floor together. The Bolts even posted a season-high 22 assists. Their role players have also stepped up, making the most of their minutes. Chris Banchero, Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge all came through with key stops and timely buckets on both ends.

Plus, keep in mind that a win on Saturday would give Meralco its most victories ever in an EASL season, after managing just two wins in each of its previous two campaigns.

Then there’s Meralco’s newest signing — a name no one in Asian basketball will need an introduction to. Expect him to be fully on display on Saturday.

‍

THE BLACK BEARS

The Black Bears might have been outmatched by the Meralco Bolts by the time the final buzzer sounded, but they didn’t look completely lost. There were stretches in that game where Macau looked in control, especially in the first quarter, as they entered the second down just 25–24.

From there, things unraveled, but there were still bright spots. Damian Chong Qui – a star for Macau in the 2024–25 season and the owner of EASL’s first-ever triple-double – lit up Meralco for 25 points and four assists, both team-highs. Phoenix Shackelford, a former standout at Division II Cal Poly Pomona, added eight rebounds and a game-high three steals.

So there’s promise for a Macau team that may be less talented on paper, and this matchup will be different. On December 6, the Black Bears welcome back the tallest active player in professional basketball, 7-foot-6 Samuel Deguara. The Malta international, who, like Chong Qui, suited up for Macau in 2024–25, averaged 15.2 points and 12.8 rebounds in six games. He’ll give the Black Bears a massive boost.

As mentioned, a loss wouldn’t bury Macau, though it would give Meralco the season sweep. And with their next regular season series coming against two members of last year’s EASL Final Four, the road ahead doesn’t get any easier. However, if the Black Bears can pull off a win, it would do huge things for the team’s confidence and shake up the Group B standings for the games ahead.

‍

SPOTLIGHT STORYLINE 

BROWNLEE’S ARRIVED

Justin Brownlee, arguably the Philippine National Team’s best-ever player and an iconic PBA star as a six-time champion and three-time Best Import of the Year, now officially dons Meralco Bolts colors. Teaming up with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Chris Newsome, he essentially turns Meralco into a PBA super team, taking on the rest of Asia in EASL, which is truly historic.

December 6 marks Brownlee’s EASL debut, and he comes in off back-to-back 20-point games for the Philippine National Team, both team-highs, in the first window of the FIBA Asian Qualifiers. He is rarely ever out of form, but if he can carry that momentum into this next game, Meralco should cruise.

One of the greatest players in Philippine basketball history is now officially part of EASL history.