The defending champions of professional basketball, Busan KCC, have suffered their second straight loss in the East Asian Super League (EASL).
KCC fell 80-81 to the Meralco Bolts (Philippines) in the second round of the 2024-2025 EASL Group B on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig, Philippines.
KCC, who entered the EASL as the KBL champions of the 2023-2024 season, fell to the Macau Black Bears 97-111 in their first game, 무료 토토사이트 and the loss was their second straight.
KCC, which lost 57-93 to Seoul SK in a regular-season game in the Korean Basketball League on Nov. 9, will enter the A-Match break on Nov. 15 without a win. KCC will resume play on Nov. 27 against the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis.
KCC led 53-42 at halftime after Dionte Burton scored 22 points in the first half, but Meralco, led by Akil Mitchell’s three-point play in the third quarter, pulled away.
Midway through the third quarter, Heo Woong’s three-pointer revitalized KCC’s momentum and they regained the lead, 64-53, with points from Jung Chang-young and Burton.
KCC started the fourth quarter with a 68-63 lead and seemed to take control of the game with Lee Geun-hwi’s three-pointer midway through the fourth quarter.
However, the team suffered a setback when Jupo Burton was ejected with five fouls with just over four minutes left in the game.
KCC was unable to stop Mitchell’s under-the-basket offense and tied the game at 75-75.
KCC took the lead on a jumper by Leon Williams with 2:12 left in the game, but was quickly answered by a three-pointer by Keir Quinto to tie the game again.
KCC was fouled by Williams with six seconds left in the game and made the free throws. Meralco’s Mitchell made 1 of 2, but KCC was unable to find a comeback and suffered a bitter taste of defeat.
Burton struggled with 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists, but his team fell short in the loss.
For Meralco, Mitchell led the way with 33 points and 22 rebounds.