BASKETBALL/Kings stay undefeated in EASL with win against Meralco Bolts

Taipei, Jan. 4 (CNA) The New Taipei Kings beat the Meralco Bolts 89-77 on Wednesday to stay undefeated in the East Asia Super League (EASL) courtesy of Jeremy Lin's (林書豪) game-high 23 points.

The game at the PhilSports Arena in Metro Manila was the first-ever road win for a Taiwanese team in the EASL and saw the Kings extend their lead at the top of the four-team Group B.

The 3-0 Kings sit first after three games, ahead of the Ryukyu Golden Kings and Seoul SK Knights in joint second and the Bolts in fourth.

Lin, who played in a 2013 NBA preseason game in the Philippines with the Houston Rockets, said his return this time held extra significance as the country was the home of his now-wife's parents.

Asked to comment on the game, Lin, who also put up 10 rebounds and four assists, said the Kings had good communication on defense as coaches asked, adding that the energy from the bench, Yang Chin-min (楊敬敏) in particular, effectively contained Zach Lofton and the Bolts.

"Just the energy and the deftness we were able to use, it was a big difference. You could see that in the second half that they were pretty tired."

The former NBA shooting guard, who dropped 35 points in the Kings' home matchup against the Bolts last November, scored 20 points on Wednesday, missing all seven three-pointers.

The Bolts were 47-42 ahead of the guest team at halftime, but the team was overhauled given an 11-point third quarter. That is the Bolts' lowest score in a single quarter this EASL season.

Also on Wednesday, Lin reunited after the game with his "brother from the past" and "one of my closest friends," Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

The Bolts' small forward, who played with Lin on the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-18, said it was "amazing" to see his former teammate line up alongside his brother, Kings' point guard Joseph Lin.

"You know I got that experience for the first time; it's just amazing. I'm just proud of him, happy for him," said Hollis-Jefferson.

The Kings' next EASL game is against the Ryukyu Golden Kings at Xinzhuang Gymnasium on Jan. 10.