The Meralco Bolts opened their East Asia Super League (EASL) 2024-2025 Season campaign in a triumphant manner.

Just days after their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup elimination, the Luigi Trillo and Nenad Vucinic-led team defeated the Macau Black Bears, 97-85, on Wednesday evening, October 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Chris Newsome topscored with 18 points along with six assists, three rebounds and three steals, while Allen Durham and David Kennedy each posted 17 markers.

The former also had 11 rebounds and four assists, while the latter finished with nine boards, seven dimes, a steal, and a block.

Only a four-point game at halftime with the Bolts in the driver’s seat, the Season 48 Philippine Cup champions shifted into higher gears in the second half and led by as much as 14, 80-66, after a balanced attack from Durham, Chris Banchero, Kennedy, and Newsome.

Macau brought their deficit down to eight, 80-72, midway through the final frame, but Newsome hit a three-pointer to regain an 11-point lead at the 6:57 mark.

Durham and Kennedy then went on to score five straight points after this to build another momentum that pushed Meralco’s lead to 93-74 following a technical free throw conversion by the latter at the 3:26 mark, and that was all they needed to eventually take advantage of playing on the home floor and get the win.

On the other hand, Jeantal Cylla and William Artino led Macau with 23 points each, Damian Chongqui scored 21 together with four assists and three rebounds, while Jenning Leung posted 10. (ABS-CBN News)