The Meralco Bolts secured a pivotal 97-86 victory over Japan's Utsunomiya Brex, thereby clinching a coveted berth in the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) 2025 Quarter-Finals. The crucial win occurred on Sunday night at the Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktom Sports Hall in Dubai. This triumph was particularly significant as Meralco, representing the Philippines, rebounded emphatically from a challenging loss to Shabab Al Ahli just 24 hours prior, showcasing their resilience and a determined strategic approach under Coach Nenad Vucinic.

The game saw Meralco assert control starting in the second quarter. They outpaced Utsunomiya by scoring 30 points to their opponents' 20 in this period, establishing a solid 50-38 lead by halftime. Unlike their previous encounter, Meralco demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the second half, progressively extending their lead and effectively quashing any attempts by Utsunomiya Brex to stage a comeback. The Bolts even commanded a lead of as much as 20 points during the fourth quarter, decisively sealing their victory, which was passionately celebrated by a strong contingent of Filipino supporters present at the venue.

Meralco's well-rounded offensive effort was central to their success. Glynn Watson, Jordon Varnado, and Chris Banchero each made significant contributions, scoring 17 points apiece. Watson also added 4 rebounds and 4 assists to his tally, while Varnado played a vital role with 8 rebounds and 6 assists. John Egbunu delivered an impressive double-double performance, registering 12 points and 13 rebounds, complemented by 3 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. Cliff Hodge also provided a crucial offensive spark, scoring 16 points with high efficiency on 7-of-8 shooting from the field. Other contributors to the Bolts' scoreline included Raymond Almazan with 8 points, Aaron Black with 6, and Chris Newsome with 4 points.

For Utsunomiya Brex, who were competing in their first game of the group stage shortly after being crowned champions of the Japan B.League, former Tall Blacks standout Isaac Fotu led their scoring efforts with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. DJ Newbill contributed 15 points, Gavin Delany scored 12, and Makoto Hiejima added 11 points for the Japanese team.

With this victory, Meralco concluded the group stage with a 1-1 win-loss record in Group B. They joined Tabiat and the Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos from Group A as the third team to officially qualify for the Quarter-Finals. Meralco's advancement was also solidified by the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions finishing their Group A campaign winless (0-2), which ensured Meralco's position among the top eight teams progressing in the nine-team tournament. The opponent Meralco will face in the quarterfinals is yet to be determined and will be decided by a draw.

The progression of scores by quarter was as follows: Meralco held a narrow 20-18 lead after the first quarter, expanded this to 50-38 by halftime, furthered their advantage to 77-63 by the end of the third quarter, and ultimately secured the 97-86 win.