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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Meralco stuns B.League champ Utsunomiya Brex to stay in BCL Asia hunt

Meralco stuns B.League champ Utsunomiya Brex to stay in BCL Asia hunt

Published Jun 9, 2025 01:20 am

At A Glance

  • Meralco bounced back and stunned Japan B.League Champion Utsunomiya Brex, 97-86, to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Basketball Champions League (BCL) Asia Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall in Dubai on Sunday, June 8.
Meralco bounced back and stunned Japan B.League Champion Utsunomiya Brex, 97-86, to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Basketball Champions League (BCL) Asia Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall in Dubai on Sunday, June 8.
The Bolts picked up the pieces from the tough opening day loss to Shabab Al Ahli as Chris Banchero formed a potent triple threat on the offense with imports Glynn Watson and Jordon Varnado to catch the debuting Japanese team off-guard.
Varnado flirted with a triple-double with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Bolts, unlike in their first game, made sure not to fade in the second half after once again building a double-digit spread through the first two quarters.
Banchero and Watson both had 17 points each as well while Cliff Hodge added 16. Meralco’s third import John Egbunu also had his share in the victory after putting up a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Meralco closed out the group phase with a 1-1 record, boosting its chances of making it to the quarterfinals.
“I don’t want to take anything away from our team. We were in a difficult situation and the boys really dug down and played really, really well, strong against a very good opposition," said Meralco team consultant Nenad Vucinic who is taking the head coaching role for Meralco in the BCL.
Isaac Fotu led Utsunomiya with 20 points while fellow imports Finn Delany and DJ Newbill had 14 and 13 respectively. Japanese veteran sniper Makoto Hiejima, meanwhile, had 11.
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