The SK Knights set up a rivalry match in the Final Four.
The Seoul SK Knights secured the top spot in Group B in the East Asia Super League as it hacked out a 72-62 win over the also-ran Meralco Bolts at the Jamsil Student's Gymnasium today.
Already out of contention but still raring for an upset, the Bolts played sans their stars but were still able to go toe-to-toe with the SK Knights throughout the first three quarters anchored on the efforts of Alvin Pasaol and Anjo Caram.
Meralco also fielded in new reinforcement, 6-foot-9 Frenchman Alioune Tew, in its final game in the tourney.
But Seoul broke free from the tight contest halfway in the fourth, with Seoul's Ilyoung Heo drilling in consecutive baskets to give the SK Knights a double-digit lead, 65-54, with 3:35 remaining.
The Bolts were not able to recover from there.
Heo finished with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Import Leon Williams also had a solid outing, producing 25 points and 19 rebounds.
Reinforcement Shonn Miller, meanwhile, led Meralco with 23 points, eight rebounds and three assists while Tew added 10 points and 21 rebounds in the losing effort.
With the win, the SK Knights set up a semifinal matchup against KBL rival Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters.
The Bolts, on the other hand, exited with a 1-5 record.
The semis will be held in Lapu-Lapu City from March 8 to 10.