In Justin Brownlee's first game for Meralco, the Bolts get their third win in the EASL by surviving the Macau Black Bears' comeback in Ilagan City.
Justin Brownlee’s long-awaited EASL 2025 debut for the Meralco Bolts ended in a hard-fought 93–91 victory over the Macau Black Bears on Saturday, December 6, at the Capital Arena in Ilagan City.
Meralco secured its third straight win, thanks largely to Sina Vahedi, who erupted for 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to help the Bolts survive a furious Macau comeback. Ismael Romero added a massive 24-point, 17-rebound double-double, while Brownlee finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds in his first game as a Bolt.
But the win came with concern as import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson exited midway through the third with an apparent ankle injury after tallying 15 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds in just 19 minutes. Meralco now holds a 3–2 record in Group B and looks ahead to its final group-stage match against the Ryukyu Golden Kings on February 11.