EASL: Meralco, San Miguel back on action at the PhilSports Arena
San Miguel Beermen and Meralco Bolts will be returning to action when they face the visiting teams from Chinese Taipei and South Korea in the East Asia Super League (EASL) Season 2 tonight at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The Beermen will try to get their first win of the tournament and try to redeem themselves from their opening day loss when they battle the Taoyuan Pilots of the P.League+ at 6:10 p.m.
San Miguel will continue to parade the import tandem of EJ Anosike and Quincy Miller.
Anosike, who led SMB to the semi-final round of the recently concluded PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup but lost to Barangay Ginebra, will try to lead their team once again just like what he did in their opening match-up against Suwon KT Sonicboom where he scored a team-high 34 points.
Miller, on the other hand, will try to redeem himself as he only produced eight points on 16 percent shooting from the field.
It will be another big task for the Beermen reinforcements as they will be confronted by Pilot's 7-foot import Alec Brown, who was a second round pick of the Phoenix Suns during the 2015 NBA draft, and former Trevon Graham, who played for Charlotte, Brooklyn, Minnesota, and Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Bolts will take on the reigning Korean Basketball League champion Busan KCC Egis at 8:10 p.m.
Meralco will also exhibit a new import in Akil Mitchell as replacement for the well-loved Allen Durham.
The 36-year-old Durham decided to retire from playing after the Bolts lost to his former team Ryukyu Golden Kings on the road, 77-74.
Durham led Meralco to a quarterfinal finish in the Governors' Cup but was swept by Ginebra. He also helped the Bolts win their first assignment against the Macau Black Bears in the EASL together with fellow import DJ Kennedy but lost their second match on the road.
Now that they are back at home, Meralco is expected to form a formidable frontcourt of the 6-foot-9 Mitchell and 6-foot-6 Kennedy, together with naturalized player Ange Kouame and veteran center Raymond Almazan.
The Bolts’ towers will be a tough fortress to deal with for the Busan team as they try to enter the win column in their second game of the season.
Former NBA player Deonte Burton reinforces the KBL champions along with Leon Williams.
The 2018 KBL Import MVP, Burton dropped 35 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists in a 111-97 loss to the Black Bears in Macau last week.
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The East Asia Super League (EASL) is officially set to raise the curtain on its new season with a twin opening in Taipei and Tokyo on October 8, 2025 — a move that reflects the league’s expanding reach and growing stature as Asia’s premier basketball competition.
All eyes in Taiwan will be on the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, which will host a blockbuster doubleheader featuring some of the region’s most decorated clubs.
The action tips off with a clash between the B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex and the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up Taipei Fubon Braves. Utsunomiya, led by veteran guard Makoto Hiejima, entered as one of Japan’s most successful franchises. The Braves, meanwhile, look to prove their resilience after falling short in a grueling seven-game finals series last season, banking on the leadership of Chinese Taipei legend Lin Chih-Chieh.
The second game of the night brings a rematch between the P. LEAGUE+ champions Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings. Their last encounter came in the 2025 EASL Final Four semifinals, where Taoyuan stunned Ryukyu, 71–64. This time, the Golden Kings are eager for redemption, while the Pilots hope to reaffirm their place among Asia’s elite.
Game schedule (HKT):
- Utsunomiya vs. Taipei Fubon – 6:30 PM
- Taoyuan vs. Ryukyu – 8:30 PM
China came within a single basket of toppling Oceania powerhouse Australia in the FIBA Asia Cup final, bowing 90-89 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but sending a clear message that it remains a force in Asian basketball.
The Chinese squad, bannered by Hu Mingxuan and Hu Jinqiu, led by as many as 15 points through three quarters before faltering in the final minutes against the defending champions. Despite the heartbreaking loss, the performance was a reminder of China’s proud basketball heritage and its potential return to continental supremacy.
Gilas Pilipinas advanced to the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals after triumphing over host nation Saudi Arabia in a tense 95-88 overtime victory on Monday, August 11 (Tuesday, August 12 in Manila) at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
Justin Brownlee once again showed his ‘Never Say Die’ attitude after drilling a contested three-pointer with 3.7 seconds left to force the extra period. He went on to finish with 29 points, five assists, and four rebounds, paving the way for a quarterfinal showdown with two-time defending champion Australia on Wednesday, August 13.
Brownlee’s heroics set the stage for Kevin Quiambao, who buried two triples in OT to complete a 17-point performance alongside three dimes and three deflections.
"It was a special game, it was a special performance from both teams," said head coach Tim Cone. "They (Saudi Arabia) posed a lot of problems for us, and by all rights, they had the game won — except for the guy sitting to my right (Brownlee). If you know his history, that’s not unusual. He’s been hitting big shots."
AJ Edu anchored the middle with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, while Dwight Ramos chipped in 13 markers, 10 boards, three dimes, and a rejection.
Beyond Brownlee’s late-game magic, the Philippines secured the win by neutralizing Saudi Arabia’s high-scoring duo of Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Mohammed Alsuwailem in the extra frame.
Abdur-Rahkman erupted for 33 points on 8-of-14 shooting from deep, while Alsuwailem tallied 26 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks — but the two combined for only five points in OT as Gilas closed the door on the hosts’ upset bid.
The Scores:
Philippines 95 – Brownlee 29, Edu 17, Quiambao 17, Ramos 13, Fajardo 6, Tamayo 5, Thompson 4, Newsome 4, Malonzo 0, Perez 0, Aguilar 0.
Saudi Arabia 88 – Abdur-Rahkman 33, Alsuwailem 26, Almuwallad 10, Abdel Gabar 8, Ma. Almarwani 4, Belal 3, Kadi 3, Mo. Almarwani 1, Shubayli 0.
Quarters: 25-15, 40-37, 60-59, 79-79 (reg.), 95-88 (OT).