Taoyuan Pauian Pilots fend off Meralco Bolts for second EASL win

Taipei, Nov. 3 (CNA) The Taoyuan Pauian Pilots of Taiwan's P. LEAGUE+ (PLG) defeated the Meralco Bolts of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) 82-72 at home on Sunday to improve to 2-0 in the 2025-26 East Asia Super League (EASL) season.

William Artino, Alec Brown, and reigning PLG MVP Lu Chun-hsiang (盧峻翔) combined for 52 points to help the Pilots top the Bolts, who were led by 26 points from Ismael Romero and 22 points from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

Both Artino and Romero grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds.

The victory marked the Pilots' fourth consecutive win to start the new pro basketball season in Asia, including two in the PLG and two in the EASL -- all by margins of at least 10 points.

The Pilots took the lead for good in Sunday's contest late in the first quarter, and extended their advantage to as many as 22 points in the third quarter before seeing it trimmed to six with 32 seconds left in the game.

Pilots head coach Iurgi Camino described the second half as a rollercoaster ride, crediting his players for playing consistently solid defense to hold on to the lead even as they repeatedly misfired from three-point range.

Bolts assistant coach Luigi Trillo said his team has been plagued by injuries recently and also faced challenges in building team chemistry with the addition of foreign players for EASL games.

Foreign players are not allowed in PBA competition and are only rostered for EASL competition. Trillo nevertheless praised the Pilots for their effort.

The Bolts will host the Pilots on Saturday.

The EASL, currently in its third season, is an international 12-team league independent from the pro leagues of individual countries and functions similar to a Champions League for East Asian basketball teams.

It features the top teams from Japan (three), South Korea (two), the Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia and Taiwan (three, the top two PLG teams and top Taiwan Professional Basketball League team) vying for the US1 million first prize over a 42-game schedule.

The runners-up earn US$500,000 and the third-place team US$250,000.