Meralco started off on the wrong foot in its campaign in the 2023 Doha Basketball Invitational Championship after falling to Al Arabi FC of Kuwait, 90-82, at the Al Gharafa Sports Club in the wee hours of Tuesday, Sept. 26.

Former NBA player Ferron Hunt tried to carry the fight for the Bolts who actually went off to a good start but simply couldn’t find a way to contain Al Arabi’s import Kyndall Dykes who torched the Filipinos with 41 big points. 

Hunt finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists while Bong Quinto and Allein Maliksi added 16 and 15 points, respectively, for the Bolts who were still without Raymond Almazan and Chris Newsome along with rookie big man Brandon Bates.

While the Bolts got it going offensively, it was their defense that was lacking as Dykes just scored at will with his quickness and athleticism.

The other Al Arabi import Jylan Washington also threw his weight around the Meralco frontline to finish with a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Meralco actually led by as many as eight points, 24-16, early in the second frame before the Kuwaitis unloaded 10 unanswered points to take the lead. It was a back-and-forth affair from there before Al Arabi took a six-point cushion at the half, 40-34.

Meralco would then try to go on a run in the ensuing quarters in an effort to regain control but was answered by timely hits from Dykes and Washington to keep the Filipinos at bay until the final horn.