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EASL: Eastern dominates San Miguel to keep playoffs hopes alive
The Hong Kong Eastern captured their third straight victory in the East Asia Super League (EASL) 2024-25 Home-and-Away season against the San Miguel Beermen on Wednesday night, January 15, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Eastern started the game with an 11-1 run and finished the opening period with a 30-11 lead, highlighted by slam dunks and three-point play opportunities.
The Beermen tried to bounce back in the second period as Jericho Cruz, June Mar Fajardo, and Don Trollano led SMB's 8-2 blast to trim down the lead, but HKE weathered the storm and still had a 16-point lead at the half.
In the third canto, SMB cut down the lead once again to 10 but the grit of the Hong Kong team was too much as they brought a 20-point advantage entering the fourth quarter of play, 50-70.
Phot Courtesy: EASL
"It’s not easy to beat any team three times in a row and so I’m proud of what my boys have done,” said Eastern coach Mensur Bajramovic.
When the final period started, HKE seemed like they were set to have a blowout win as they stretched the lead further to 25 but Fajardo and Trollano, who both finished with 20 markers, steered the Beermen to an 18-0 run down the stretch bringing the deficit to seven, to the delight of the home crowd.
But it was too late for SMB as the Eastern composed themselves in the end to capture the 10-point triumph.
"It’s not easy to beat any team three times in a row and so I’m proud of what my boys have done,” said Eastern coach Mensur Bajramovic.
Cameron Clark, who finally met his former PBA team reinforced the Hong Kong squad with a game-high 25 points, to go along with eight rebounds, three assists, and a block, while the other Eastern import Chris McLaughlin poured 15 markers, brought down 17 boards, dished off 17 assists, and stole the ball thrice.
The trio of Hayden Blankley, Glen Yang, and Kobey Lam scored 11, 11, and 10, respectively, to backstop their reinforcements in getting the important win that kept their playoffs hunt alive.
Hong Kong Eastern will visit Taiwan to next face the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots on February 5 to further improve their standings in Group A, while the San Miguel Beermen will conclude their EASL season against the Suwon KT Sonicboom on February 12 in Korea.
The Scores:
EASTERN (84) – Clark 25, McLaughling 15, Blankley 11, Lam 10, Cheung 7, Cao 5, Leung 0, Chan 0, Pok 0, Zhu 0, Xu 0.
SAN MIGUEL (74) – Fajardo 20, Trollano 20, Tiongson 8, Cruz 6, Jones 6, Perez 5, Teng 4, Tautuaa 4, Cahilig 1, Rosales 0, Nava 0, Narcis 0.
Quarter Scores: 30-11; 48-32; 70-50; 84-74.
