The Busan KCC Egis secured their first East Asia Super League (EASL) win of the 2024-25 season on Wednesday, defeating the Meralco Bolts 72-68. Despite trailing 68-55 with just over three minutes left, Busan KCC mounted an incredible comeback, taking a 69-68 lead with 12 seconds remaining in regulation.

Star guard Heo Ung led the Egis with 31 points, including seven 3-pointers — four of which came in the final quarter. Deonte Burton added 26 points and 14 rebounds. For Meralco, only two players reached double-digit scoring in an uncharacteristic offensive performance, as the team notched a 35% clip from the field. 

Post-game Triple 

KCC’s Miraculous Comeback 

Midway through the fourth quarter at Busan Sajik Stadium, the KCC Egis seemed on the brink of defeat. They trailed for most of the period, with the margin growing to 13 points with 3:14 left. A loss would drop them to 0-4, eliminating them from playoff contention.

Then, Heo Ung took over.

Beginning at the 2:59 mark, Heo hit four consecutive 3-pointers while KCC made four straight defensive stops. Then, with the Egis down 68-67, Deonte Burton grabbed a long rebound off a Chris Newsome miss and passed it to Heo for an uncontested layup, giving KCC a 69-68 lead.

On the Bolts’ final possession, forward Akil Mitchell took a difficult shot from the right corner which came up short. From there, with less than a second remaining, KCC secured the rebound and began to celebrate its first-ever EASL victory.

Choi’s Defensive Masterclass 

Choi Jun Yong has played in only half of Busan KCC's EASL games this season due to a lingering ankle injury.

He made his EASL debut on Dec. 4, scoring 13 points against the Ryukyu Golden Kings. However, in the game against Meralco, Choi’s impact was most noticeable on the defensive end. The 2021 Korean Basketball League MVP recorded a season-high seven blocks — a single-game high for this year’s EASL — and two steals. 

Choi played an all-around defensive game on Wednesday, handling a handful of tough assignments. On one play in the first half, he blocked DJ Kennedy’s attempt at the rim, swatting the ball out of bounds. On another, he wrestled possession away from Mitchell in the paint before initiating a fast break that ended with a Heo 3-pointer from the left wing.

Although Choi struggled offensively, scoring just five points on 22.2% shooting in nearly 30 minutes, his defensive contributions were crucial to Busan KCC's success.

Mitchell, Kennedy Shine 

Before Heo's remarkable shooting performance, Kennedy and Mitchell led Meralco to its commanding late-game lead.

Kennedy scored a team-high 23 points on 40% shooting, while Mitchell added 17 points and an impressive 18 rebounds. Both players primarily scored in the paint, exploiting Busan KCC's lack of height in the frontcourt.

Throughout the EASL season, the Bolts have relied heavily on Kennedy’s scoring ability. He notably scored 30 points in Meralco's narrow 77-74 loss to the Ryukyu Golden Kings and is currently averaging 21 points per game. Mitchell, playing in just his second game of the season, recently posted a dominant 33-point, 22-rebound performance in an 81-80 win over KCC on Nov. 13.

Though they didn't secure a third Group B win for the Bolts, Kennedy and Mitchell still delivered strong performances.

EASL Player of the Game: Heo Ung — Busan KCC Egis 

Heading into the fourth quarter against Meralco, Heo had 17 points. By the final buzzer, he had scored 31, including four 3-pointers and the game-winning layup to secure a historic Busan KCC victory. In the final three minutes, Heo outscored Meralco with a personal 14-0 run. 

But Heo struggled early, not scoring until 2:39 remained in the second quarter. However, he found his rhythm in the third, hitting three 3-pointers and making several crafty layups. Late in the third quarter, Heo drove past one of Meralco’s top defenders, Newsome, and finished strong on the left side.

His seven 3-pointers mark an EASL single-game record for the 2024-25 season. Following his explosive performance, Heo now averages 19 points per game over three games.

Stat of the Game: 62 

For most teams, dominating the rebounding battle leads to second-chance points. But despite Meralco setting a single-game EASL rebounding record with 62 boards, their dominance on the glass didn’t translate into success.

The Bolts grabbed 25 offensive rebounds, including 11 from Kennedy and 2024 PBA Defensive Player of the Year Cliff Hodge, but struggled to score near the basket. On other chances, they kicked the ball out to the perimeter but couldn’t hit outside shots.

In their first meeting with Busan KCC on Nov. 13, Meralco’s 50-36 rebounding advantage helped secure the win. This time, despite a substantial 18-rebound margin, the Bolts couldn’t capitalize.

Next Games: 

Busan KCC Egis 

• Home vs. Macau Black Bears (Macau SAR) — Jan. 15, 2025 

Meralco Bolts

• Home vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) — Jan. 22, 2025