SAN Miguel failed to sustain a fine start and fell against Korean Basketball League side Suwon KT Sonicboom, 87-81, in the kickoff game of the East Asia Super League (EASL) Home and Away Season 2 Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Import Rayshaun Hammonds proved to be the thorn on the side of the Beermen as the 6-foot-9 product of University of Georgia dropped 39 points and 14 rebounds against the reigning PBA Commissioner's Cup champion.
The 25-year-old Hammonds scored seven in a 9-0 Suwon run in the fourth quarter to give the visitors an 87-75 lead.
EJ Anosike finished with 34 points and seven rebounds, while June Mar Fajardo with 19 points and nine boards for San Miguel, which ended the first half still leading, 43-39.
Incidentally, the 25-year-old Anosike previously played for the Sonicboom in 2022 during his first overseas stint.
Sponsored content: "In the first half of this game, everybody played well, everybody played hard. It was just those small things coming to the end game that really cost us the game," said San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent, who still went on to help call the shots for the team despite being under the weather.
Heo Hoon, the 2020 KBL MVP and son of the legendary Korean player Hur Jae, added 17 points, nine assists, and a huge three pointer in the homestretch, 78-73, to douse cold water on the Beermen's last ditch uprising.
"We execute well our game plan," said Suwon KT coach Son Young-jin.
The Beermen came to the game still fresh from a 114-112 stunner against the Converge FiberXers in Game 3 of the Governors' Cup quarterfinals following the game winner of Alec Stockton in a match San Miguel led by as many as 27 points.
In all, the game was the third in five days for San Miguel, which only got eight points on 2-of-12 shooting from other import Quincy Miller.
Sponsored content: "I don't think so," said Gallent when asked if fatigue has factored on the second half meltdown of the Beermen.
The scores:
Suwon KT Sonicboom (87) -- Hammonds 39, Heo 17, Han 14, Ha 9, Tilmon 8, Moon 0, Choi 0, Lee 0, Moon 0, Park 0, Ko 0.
San Miguel (81) -- Anosike 34, Fajardo 19, Miller 8, Lassiter 8, Perez 7, Rosales 3, Trollano 2, Tautuaa 0, Ross 0, Cruz 0.
Quarterscores: 23-20; 39-43; 68-62; 87-81.
