Where: Cebu Coliseum  

When: Wednesday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m. CST

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

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: Torrence Watson — 195cm / 90kg

THE RUNDOWN 

Riding high off its first EASL win of the season against the Group B leaders, the Meralco Bolts aim to make it two in a row as they welcome the Macau Black Bears to Cebu, Philippines, on Saturday.

This is a landmark night for the league as EASL stages its first charity game for disaster relief. All ticket revenue from this game will go directly to those affected by the earthquakes and flooding that hit Cebu this fall.

Meralco looked rejuvenated in its last EASL outing, an 85–76 win over the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots. The Bolts remain third in Group B at 1–2. They were lifted by the arrival of Asian import guard Sina Vahedi, who scored a game-high 22 points, while Ismael Romero matched him with 22 and added a week-high 14 rebounds.

As for the Macau Black Bears, they come in after a major roster overhaul and should be one to watch. Damian Chong Qui, the EASL assists leader in 2024–25, now operates alongside a refreshed group that has dominated recent The Asian Tournament (TAT) action.

‍

THE BOLTS

The Meralco Bolts looked like a completely different team in their EASL home debut. Maybe it was the crowd behind them, maybe it was that things finally clicked. Under Sina Vahedi’s lead, Meralco put together a masterclass, jumping out early and holding the lead the entire way for a wire-to-wire win.

Against Macau, Vahedi is expected to run the show again, with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Ismael Romero playing major roles. What stood out against Taoyuan was the lift from the locals, led by Chris Newsome’s 14 points. Bong Quinto scored only three, but it was a massive three — his lone make pushed the game out of reach at 83–72 with 43 seconds left.

With minimal turnovers, strong work on the glass, and efficient shot-making, the version of Meralco we saw last time looked like a force to be reckoned with.

‍

THE BLACK BEARS 

The Macau Black Bears enter this season fresh off their 2024–25 debut, where they went an impressive 3–3 and even beat eventual third-place finishers the New Taipei Kings.

Damian Chong Qui returns to Macau and the EASL stage after leading the league with 9.0 assists per game and totaling 54 assists, the most in a single EASL season. Also watch for big games from Phoenix Shackelford and Omari Peek-Green, two newcomers with U.S. college experience who have excelled for Macau early on.

This is a hungry Macau group ready to build on last year’s expansion run. In the offseason, despite a revamped roster, the Black Bears pushed the Philippine national team to the wire in an exhibition before Gilas went on to reach the knockout stages of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. They will look to spoil the party again at Cebu Coliseum on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT STORYLINE 

BASKETBALL FOR CEBU

For the first time in EASL’s three-year home-and-away history, the league will stage its first charity game for disaster relief. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Cebu Coliseum in Cebu, Philippines. All ticket proceeds will go to people affected by the recent earthquakes and typhoon in Cebu.

The league is grateful to the Macau Black Bears and the Meralco Bolts for taking part and looks forward to doing its part for basketball fans in Cebu, the Philippines, and beyond.