The Meralco Bolts delivered an impressive performance on Saturday evening, defeating the Macau Black Bears with a commanding 92-74 victory during the East Asia Super League's inaugural charity event at the newly renovated Cebu Coliseum.
Explosive Performances Lead to Dominant Win
Meralco's import players stole the show with spectacular individual efforts that left the Cebuano crowd in awe. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, affectionately nicknamed "Lefty Kobe" for his resemblance to the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant, put on a dunking exhibition that energized the arena throughout the November 15, 2025 matchup.
Hollis-Jefferson finished with monster numbers: 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists, demonstrating why he's become one of the most exciting players in the tournament. His powerful dunks over multiple defenders became instant highlights that had fans on their feet.
Record-Breaking Night for Romero
While Hollis-Jefferson provided the flash, teammate Ismael Romero delivered historic substance by setting a new East Asia Super League single-game rebound record. Romero grabbed an astonishing 28 rebounds to go along with his 25 points, breaking the previous mark of 23 set by Chiba Jets forward Xavier Cooks on March 8.
Interestingly, both record-breaking performances occurred in Cebu, cementing the city's status as a venue for basketball history. Romero's dominance in the painted area allowed Meralco to control the game's tempo and secure their second victory in four starts.
Charity Event Supports Typhoon Relief
The game served a greater purpose beyond basketball competition, with proceeds dedicated to supporting victims of typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi). Demonstrating their commitment to community support, Meralco Bolts made a separate donation of P500,000 to bolster Cebu City's relief efforts.
Hollis-Jefferson acknowledged the event's significance in his post-game comments, stating: "I hope the game tonight inspires them. I hope it leaves hope. I hope they keep fighting. Keep supporting us and we'll continue to support them."
The Bolts built their largest lead of 19 points at 71-52 with 8:38 remaining in the game. Though Macau mounted a comeback effort led by Chongqui—dubbed the "Allen Iverson of Macau"—who scored 25 points, and supported by Jalon Demaco Miller and Omari Peek-Green with 14 points each, the Black Bears couldn't sustain their momentum.
Meralco received solid contributions throughout their roster, with Chris Banchero adding 12 points and Vahed Mohammadsina chipping in 10 points to secure the victory.
The win propelled Meralco to second place in Group B standings, trailing only the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, whom they defeated on November 8 in Iligan City. Basketball fans can look forward to a December 6 rematch between Meralco and Macau at The Capital Arena in Iligan City, Isabela.
