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| Ismael Romero hypes the crowd up amid a historic monster game for Meralco. EASL |
QUEZON CITY—Ismael Romero entered the EASL record book as he connived with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in stomping their dominance on Macau to lead Meralco to a 92-74 blowout victory in a special game at the Cebu City Coliseum on Saturday night.
The Puerto Rico international highlighted a monster game with 28 rebounds, setting the new record for the most boards in a single game in the home-and-away league's history.
Romero also scored 25 points on 12-of-19 shooting as he already entered the double-double zone before halftime, eventually finishing the first half with about half of his total point-rebound outputs.
He, too, had four assists and two blocks in the Bolts' blowout win.
Hollis-Jefferson, on loan from sister team TNT for the EASL, paced Meralco, now with back-to-back wins after a 0-2 start, offensively with 34 points alongside 11 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks.
Damian Chongqui led the Black Bears, who played minus Filipino-American stud Quentin Millora-Brown, with 25 points, two rebounds, and four assists.
Omari Peek-Green and Jalon Miller each added 14 markers, with the latter also grabbing 10 boards as the TAT powerhouse began its EASL campaign on a bitter note.
The real highlight of the game, though, was the help it would give to the victims of the recent disasters that hit the entire Cebu province.
All ticket sales will be donated to those affected by the major earthquake last month and typhoon "Tino" earlier this month.
Paolo Trillo, the Bolts' team manager, also announced that the entire squad will donate PHP500,000 to the Cebuanos as they continue to rebuild after the recent calamities.
Meralco and Macau will let the FIBA international break pass before they finish their two-game set on Dec. 6.
Although credited as a Black Bears' home game, the rematch, as it stands, is scheduled to take place at The Capital Arena in Ilagan, the venue of the Bolts' first home stand this season.
