Meralco Bolts set for crucial BCL Asia Quarterfinals clash against Mongolia’s Broncos

The Meralco Bolts, fresh off a significant bounce-back victory, are poised for a high-stakes quarterfinal showdown against the Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos of Mongolia in the 2025 Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia). The knockout match is scheduled for Wednesday, June 11 (7 PM Manila time), at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.

The reigning PBA Philippine Cup champions secured their spot in the Last Eight after a decisive 97-86 win over newly-crowned Japan B.League champions Utsunomiya Brex on Sunday. This impressive performance allowed the Bolts to finish the group stage with an identical 1-1 record in Group B, overcoming an opening-day loss to host team Shabab Al Ahli.

The Mongolian Broncos, meanwhile, proved to be one of the tournament’s surprise packages. They also finished with a 1-1 record in Group A, highlighted by a stunning 84-67 rout of Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) champions Zhejiang Guangsha Lions. They narrowly missed topping their group, falling 76-78 in a close contest against Iran’s Tabiat Basketball.

The BCL Asia playoff pairings are now set, with reigning PBA Philippine Cup champion Meralco Bolts set to take on Mongolia’s Broncos.

For more stories, visit ⁦https://t.co/JGLB5Z2cZg⁩.#BCLAsiahttps://t.co/gG2ILyKwIK

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) June 10, 2025

Meralco will once again lean on their potent trio of imports: John Egbunu, Glynn Watson, and Jordon Varnado. Varnado, in particular, has been highly efficient for the Bolts in group play, averaging 20.5 efficiency and a team-best four assists per game. Watson has been their primary scorer with 18 points per game, while Egbunu has dominated the boards with 12 rebounds per contest.

However, the Broncos are far from an easy opponent. They are anchored by American import Ian Bennett Miller, who has been a revelation, averaging 23 points and 5.5 assists in the group stage. Miller’s six triples against the Zhejiang Lions showcased his scoring threat, and Meralco’s defense will need to be sharp to contain him. Mongolian standout Altangerel Azbayar, the BCL Asia-East MVP, and dominant big man Jordy Tshimanga also contribute significantly to the Broncos’ strong lineup.

Under the guidance of active consultant Nenad Vucinic, Meralco will also rely heavily on their veteran local core, including Finals MVP Chris Newsome, Cliff Hodge, Chris Banchero, Bong Quinto, and Aaron Black. Their experience and synergy will be crucial in navigating the intense knockout format.

The winner of this Meralco-Broncos clash will advance to the semifinals to face the victor of the other quarterfinal pairing between Tabiat Basketball and Utsunomiya Brex. The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, June 12, with the championship game set for Friday, June 13.

For the Bolts, this tournament is not just about continental bragging rights; the BCL Asia champion will earn the right to represent Asia in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup later this year in Singapore. Fans in the Philippines will be keenly watching as Meralco aims to make a deep run and stamp its class on the Asian club basketball scene.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.