Where: Taoyuan Arena 

When: Sunday, Nov. 2, 5 p.m. CST

Team Records: Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (1-0) / Meralco Bolts (0-1)

Where to Watch: Ticket Information / Broadcast Information 

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PROJECTED STARTERS 

Taoyuan Pauian Pilots 

PG: Pai Yao Cheng — 182cm / 77kg

SG: Lu Chun Hsiang — 188cm / 82kg

SF: Setric Milner Jr. — 198cm / 92kg 

PF: Will Artino — 211cm / 110kg

C: Alec Brown — 216cm / 207kg 

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Meralco Bolts 

PG: Chris Banchero — 183cm / 79kg

SG: CJ Cansino — 188cm / 82kg 

SF: Bong Quinto — 188cm / 88kg 

PF: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson — 198cm / 98kg

C: Ismael Romero — 206cm / 100kg

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TEAM STATISTIC LEADERS 

Taoyuan Pauian Pilots 

Points: Lu Chun Hsiang — 24.0 

Rebounds: Will Artino — 12.0
Assists: Pai Yao Cheng — 6.0
Steals: Artino, Pai, Alec Brown, Kuan Ta You — 2.0
Blocks: Artino, Brown — 2.0 

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Meralco Bolts 

Points: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson — 25.0 

Rebounds: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson — 8.0
Assists: Hollis-Jefferson, Chris Newsome — 5.0
Steals: Ismael Romero — 2.0 

Blocks: Ronade Hollis-Jefferson — 2.0 

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THE RUNDOWN 

The Taoyuan Pauian Pilots return home for their first EASL game since Feb 5, hosting the PBA’s Meralco Bolts in their 2025–26 home opener. Taoyuan is 1–0 after a 94–80 win over the Ryukyu Golden Kings at Tip Off 2025, while Meralco fell 81–72 to the same opponent on the road.

It’s a second tough test in a row for both teams in this season’s “Group of Death.” The Pilots will look to ride the home crowd to 2–0. The Bolts, meanwhile, must scrap to avoid an 0–2 start against a powerful Taoyuan side.

Now, either Taoyuan defends home court to stay perfect, or Meralco levels the group by pulling all three teams (TPP, MER and RGK) to 1-1. 

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THE PILOTS 

Taoyuan keeps cementing itself as an Asian powerhouse. What started as an underdog run in EASL 2024–25 ended with a runners-up finish, a P. LEAGUE+ title, and now a statement to open the new EASL season: a 14-point win over the B.LEAGUE’s Ryukyu Golden Kings. If it wasn’t clear before, the Pilots are legit.

Their star Lu Chun Hsiang just keeps climbing. He led EASL in total points last season with 158, then opened this campaign with a team-high 24. Beside him, point guard Pai Yao Cheng continues to steady the offense as a true floor general, and new naturalized forward Will Artino controlled the glass in the opener and looks like a real problem.

Right now, the Pilots look not only like the best team in their group but one of the best in the league. It will take a massive effort from Meralco to knock them off, especially at Taoyuan Arena.

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THE BOLTS 

Meralco fell at Ryukyu on Oct 22 but never looked out of sorts for a group assembled over the offseason.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the way with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks, with Chris Newsome and CJ Cansino also scoring in double figures. On paper, the Bolts match up well with Taoyuan. The question is whether the week after opening night gave them enough time to gel.

The concern is the glass. Meralco surrendered a duo record 36 rebounds to Jack Cooley (19) and Alex Kirk (17). Against Will Artino and 7-footer Alec Brown, Ismael Romero and the Bolts bigs will have their hands full.

Even so, Meralco has the star power. If Hollis-Jefferson, Newsome, and Cansino find a rhythm and the Bolts hold their own on the boards, they can make life very interesting in Taoyuan.

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SPOTLIGHT STORYLINE 

TURNING THE TABLES 

Last week’s storyline was Meralco’s inability to beat Ryukyu on the road. This week, it is the PBA’s record against Chinese Taipei teams. Through the first two EASL seasons combined, PBA clubs are 1–5 versus Chinese Taipei, and Meralco is 0–3. The Bolts now have a chance to claw one back.

Notably, the PBA’s lone win came when Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s TNT Tropang Giga beat the Taipei Fubon Braves on Dec 20, 2023, 80–69. Hollis-Jefferson went for 35 points and 11 rebounds. He could script a similar night here.

On the other side, Taoyuan will look to keep its perfect 1–0 mark against PBA opponents intact. Its lone meeting was a 101–85 rout of the San Miguel Beermen at PhilSports Arena on Nov 13, 2024.