EASTERN leaned on a huge double digit lead to weather a late San Miguel comeback, 84-74, and stayed in strong contention for a Final Four berth in the EASL Home And Away Season 2 Wednesday night at the Philsports Arena.
The Hong Kong-based squad saw its 20-point lead cut down to just 70-77 with 2:07 left on a tip-in by June Mar Fajardo and an all-Filipino San Miguel five on the floor.
But the visiting team retaliated with five straight unanswered points on a three-pointer by Kobe Lam and a Cameron Clark jumper to take the fight out of the reigning PBA Commissioner's Cup champion.
Eastern improved to 3-2 overall and on track at a shot for the remaining semis berth in Group A. Taoyua Pauian Pilots are just above Eastern at no. 2 with a 3-1 slate, while at no. 4 is Suwon KT Sonicboom at 2-3.
Reigning B. League champion Hiroshima Dragonflies already secured the first semifinals berth in the same group.
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The Beermen played without injured players Marcio Lassiter and Chris Ross, but Fajardo delivered with a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Don Trollano also had 20, four rebounds, and five assists.
"San Miguel is a team with a big guy who's dominating. So we had a plan going to the game," said Eastern coach Mensur Bajramovic afterwards.
Cameron Clark had 25 points and eight rebounds against his former team, while fellow import Chris McLaughlin added 15.
The loss was the third straight for San Miguel against Eastern including a sweep of their two head-to-head matchup in the EASL. The other win came in the Commissioner's Cup.
"It's not easy to beat any team three times in a row and so I'm proud of what my boys have done," added Bajramovic.
San Miguel remained winless in five outings and at the bottom of Group A. It will have one final game on Feb. 12 against the Suwon KT Sonicboom. (RG)
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The scores
Eastern (84) - Clark 25, McLaughlin, 15, Blankley 11, Yang 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.
Quarterscores: 30-11; 48-32; 70-50; 84-74.
