The New Taipei Kings on Wednesday beat the Meralco Bolts 89-77 to stay undefeated in the East Asia Super League (EASL) courtesy of Jeremy Lin’s game-high 23 points.
The game at the PhilSports Arena in 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.
Photo: CNA
Lin, who played in a 2013 NBA pre-season game in the Philippines with the Houston Rockets, said that his return this time held extra significance, as the country was the home of his now-wife’s parents.
Lin, who also put up 10 rebounds and four assists, said that the Kings had good communication on defense — as the coaches asked — and that the energy from the bench, Yang Chin-min 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,” Lin said. “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 in November, scored 20 points on Wednesday, but missed all seven of his three-point attempts.
The Bolts were 47-42 ahead of the visitors at halftime, but were overhauled given an 11-point third quarter. That was the Bolts’ lowest score in a single quarter this EASL season.
After the game, Lin spoke with his “brother from the past” and “one of my closest friends,” Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
The Bolts’ small forward, who played with Lin at the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2018, said it was “amazing” to see his former teammate play alongside his brother, Kings’ point guard Joseph Lin.
“You know I got that experience for the first time; it’s just amazing,” Hollis-Jefferson said. “I’m just proud of him, happy for him.”
The Kings’ next EASL game is against the Ryukyu Golden Kings at Sinjhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City on Wednesday next week.
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