EASTERN kept San Miguel still winless in the EASL Home-and-Away Season 2 following a 71-62 decision Wednesday night at the Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong.
Kobey Lam proved to be the thorn on the side of the Beermen, torching the PBA side for 19 points and leading a crucial run going home that secured the win for the Hong Kong side.
The 24-year-old guard accounted for five straight points in a 9-0 blast midway in the final quarter, giving Eastern a 69-58 lead it will never relinquish on the way to notching a first win in the regional tournament.
Big import Chris McLaughlin registered a double-double of 16 points and 17 rebounds, and Glenn Yang added 11 for the home team, which improved to a 1-2 record in Group A.
The Hong Kong-based crew suited up just one import in the 6-foot-10 McLaughlin as Cameron Clark has yet to recover from a hip injury.
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San Miguel was led by Torren Jones and June Mar Fajardo, who each had 19 points, but not enough to prevent the team from suffering a third straight loss to stay at the bottom of the same group.
The Beermen were creeping within 60-58 on a basket by Fajardo before Lam and the rest of the Eastern team pulled together that telling fourth quarter run.
The loss was the first for coach Leo Austria in three games since assuming the job last week in lieu of Jorge Gallent.
San Miguel and Eastern will have their rematch on Sunday in the Commissioner's Cup at the Philsports Arena.
Eastern is currently tied on top of the PBA standings in a tie with Northport at 5-1. (RG)
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The scores
Eastern (71) - Lam 19, McLaughlin 16, Yang 11, Blankley 7, Leung 5, Xu 5, Chan 4, Zhu 4, Cheung 0, Pok 0, Guinchard 0.
San Miguel (62) - Jones 19, Fajardo 19, Perez 8, Miller 5, Tautuaa 3, Cahilig 3, Trollano 3, Rosales 2, Lassiter 0, Ross 0.
Quarterscores: 28-14; 48-34; 60-48; 71-62.
