Meralco must beat Ryukyu by this many to make EASL playoffs

MERALCO is going all in as it eyes a first ever playoffs stint in the East Asia Super League.

The Bolts have lined up rookie Jason Brickman in their must-win game against the Ryukyu Golden Kings on the final day of EASL Home and Away Season 3 group stage on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Brickman, the team’s first-round pick in the Season 50 draft, will be among the newcomers for Meralco along with import Cady Lalanne – the replacement for the injured Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – as it seeks to become the first PBA team to make it to the post-season play of the continental tournament.

Brickman and Lalanne, on loan to the Bolts from the NLEX Road Warriors, are going to be joined in the stacked lineup by Justin Brownlee, Ismael Romero, Sina Vahedi, CJ Cansino, Chris Banchero, Cliff Hodge, Aaron Black, Brandon Bates, Bong Quinto, Raymond Almazan, and hopefully Chris Newsome.

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The 35-year-old Newsome is coming off an MCL injury that made him miss the final two games of the team’s semifinal loss to TNT in the Philippine Cup.

But Newsome could be available to play depending on how he would feel once he joins full-contact practice days leading to the showdown with the Golden Kings.

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“He will try on Monday to practice for the first time with contacts,” said Luigi Trillo, who has deferred to Nenad Vucinic to assume the coaching job of Meralco in the EASL.

Meralco will be going to its showdown with Ryukyu coming off a three-game winning streak, including a 93-91 escape act against the Macau Black Bears last December in Ilagan, Isabela.

The winning run had the Bolts hiking their record at 3-2 for third place in Group B behind Ryukyu (4-1) and Taoyuan Pilots (4-2).

Ryukyu is on a roll as well, winning their last four outings, including an 81-72 victory over Meralco in Okinawa during their first meeting of the season.

EASL numbers game

Meralco needs all the help it can get to make the playoffs.

The Bolts actually had to beat the Golden Kings by six points to advance as a winning margin of five points or less wouldn’t be enough for them to advance.

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Meanwhile, a winning margin of 20 points or more, would not only allow Meralco to clinch a playoff berth, but likewise take the top seed in Group B, while leaving the Golden Kings and Pilots to contest the remaining quarterfinal ticket in their bracket via the quotient.

A loss will mean another failed bid for the franchise to contend for the EASL championship.

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