Hong Kong Eastern completed a three-game sweep of listless San Miguel Beermen, 84-74, to maintain their hopes of making it to the Final Four in the East Asian Super League (EASL) Home and Away Season 2 on Wednesday night, January 15, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Import Cameron Clark finally had the chance to play against his former team after missing HKE’s first two games against San Miguel.

The 33-year-old forward led Eastern past the Beermen with an impressive performance that included 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the field, eight rebounds, and six assists.

“I definitely had this on my mind for a while. Not playing the first two games, it really killed me but I feel like we got our revenge. It was a great team win,” Clark said during the post-game press conference.

“It was a pleasure playing against those guys. Great teammates, great organization, but we had to get the dub,” he added.

Clark played for the Beermen in the PBA Season 47 Governors' Cup and the 2023 EASL Champions Week, where SMB finished 0-2.

Backstopping Clark’s efforts was Chris McLaughlin, who had a fantastic game for Eastern, posting 15 markers and pulling down 18 boards, while Glen Yang and Hayden Blankley each contributed 11 points  to the victory.

Don Trollano and June Mar Fajardo led the Beermen with 20 points apiece in the defeat, leaving SMB without a victory in the EASL.

Eastern will play the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots on February 5 in an attempt to guarantee a semifinal berth.

Meralco made a statement after beating the league-leading NorthPort Batang Pier, 111-94, in the continuation of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday night, January 14, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Akil Mitchell and Chris Banchero led the way for the Bolts as they got their sixth win in nine games to improve their conference record.

Mitchell tallied 30 points and 13 rebounds to power Meralco to victory, while Banchero had 25 markers, four boards, and one steal to pace the local unit.

“It was a very important game for us. I was really excited to play NorthPort tonight because They were playing the best in this conference, so we really wanted to see where we were as a team and I thought we responded well tonight,” said Banchero.

Bolts head coach Luigi Trillo acknowledged the better defense that their team showed.

“We played better defense as a team. We know this team can score the ball. They got guys like (Joshua) Munzon, (Arvin) Tolentino, (William) Navarro, their import also a perfect fit for them.  Their import is also a perfect fit for them. I thought our bench, all around, coming out... even our bigs, Norbert (Torres), Kyle (Pascual), Raymond (Almazan) helping Brandon (Bates). Quality from them coming in," said Trillo.

On the other hand, Kadeem Jack led the Batang Pier with 29 points, while Arvin Tolentino added 19 markers. Joshua Munzon and William Navarro also scored in double digits with 12 and 11, respectively.

CJ Perez put up 23 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, and four steals to lead the San Miguel Beermen get back on the winning track as they beat the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 85-78, on Sunday night, January 12, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The crucial win ended a two-game slump for San Miguel as they stayed in the hunt for a playoff spot in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup and still have a chance to defend the title that they got last season.

Perez was backed-up by Beermen’s import Jabari Narcis, who tallied 18 markers and grabbed 23 boards, while eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo had 13 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists.

The other two starters, Juami Tiongson and Marcio Lassiter added 13 and 8, respectively, to help SMB improve to 4-4, ahead of NLEX and Phoenix, who both have 3-5 win-loss records.

Jericho Cruz sparked San Miguel’s bench with 10 markers, highlighted by a rare five-point play and a crucial steal in the end game.

"We considered this game as most crucial for us as Magnolia is one our rivals for the Top 8. A loss will slide us to the Bottom 5 but a win will get us to the Top 8," said Beermen head coach Leo Austria.

"This win will be a good morale booster for us, giving us more confidence going to our next game against Meralco (on Saturday in Candon)," he added.

On the other hand, Magnolia fell down to 3-6 in team standings and is now on the brink of being eliminated from playoff contention.

Ricardo Ratliffe paced the Hotshots in the losing cause with 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Mark Barroca added 13 markers and six dimes, in a night where he hit a milestone of playing his 600th consecutive game in the pro league.

Magnolia will be back in action on Thursday, January 16, against the Phoenix Fuel Masters at the Philsports Arena, while San Miguel will face the Meralco Bolts on Saturday, January 18, at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.

Barangay Ginebra registered its sixth win at the expense of Blackwater Bossing, 86-63, as RJ Abarrientos's effort was crucial to the team's resounding victory on Sunday night, January 12, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. 

Abarrientos' outstanding play in the third quarter helped the Gin Kings win their sixth straight game to improve their record in the team standings to 6-3, joining Converge and guest team, Hong Kong.

The prized rookie of Ginebra poured out 15 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal, backstopping the effort of import Justin Brownlee, who scored a team-high 18 markers along with seven boards, four dimes, a deflection, and a rejection. 

“Our motivation was our struggles from before. For us to get to the playoffs, it has to start now … This game against Blackwater is a stepping stone for us,” said Abarrientos, earning Best Player of the Game honors. 

Meanwhile, the Gin Kings’ triumph was also highlighted with Jamie Alonzo returning to the hardcourt, playing his first game back since April of last year after he was laid off due to an injury to the calf.

“For Jamie, it’s been a long, long road for him. We’ve watched him from the side and seen the work he’s done. So it’s just a culmination of the hard work of getting back into the lineup,” praised coach Tim Cone of the 6-foot-7 athletic wingman after delivering eight points and three boards despite having a restricted time off the bench to just 10 minutes.

Blackwater reinforcement George King scored a game-high 27 markers and six rebounds in the losing cause, while Jaydee Tungcab led the locals with 10.

After their run was cut short by league-leading NorthPort earlier last week, the crowd darlings will play TNT on Friday, January 17, at Philsports Arena in an attempt to complete another back-to-back.

The former UP Fighting Maroons' point guard arrived in South Korea yesterday, January 9. 

In Instagram stories, the Suwon KT Sonicboom team picked him up in Incheon International airport, and it was the team's way of welcoming the UP pride who entered South Korea.

And now, Cagulangan is set for his Korean Basketball League debut this Saturday, January 11, as Sonicboom faces Gutang and the Seoul Samsung Thunder. He also looks to make a mark in South Korea and continue his basketball journey on the international stage.

Cagulangan will be joining other Filipino talents in KBL, including Carl Tamayo, Justin Gutang, Migs Oczon, and SJ Belangel.

He led the UP Fighting Maroons to the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball title and also ended his UP career as UAAP season 87 Most Valuable Player (MVP).

In his final game with the Maroons, he registered 12 points, two rebounds, four assists, and three steals, leaving a lasting impression as one of the league's most reliable floor generals.

Cagulangan’s performance in the UAAP Finals was nothing short of stellar, recording averages of 13.67 points, 4.33 rebounds, 4.67 assists, 1.33 steals, and 0.67 blocks in the championship series.

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters extended their win streak at the expense of Blackwater Bossing, 122-106, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Wednesday, January 8.

With the efforts of import Deon Thompson, Adrian Nocum, and Santi Santillan, the Elasto Painters ensured that Blackwater would not repeat the same scenario where George King and the Bossing wiped them out during last year’s Governor’s Cup.

Nocum's consistency paid off as he poured IN 22 points, pulled down five rebounds, and three steals to help the Elasto Painters some sense of revenge on their tormentors from the previous conference.

“For me, I just stick to whatever my coaches tell me regarding our game plan. Even coach [Yeng Guiao] said that we played well in that game but our opponents just played a lot better,” said Nocum during the postgame interview.

“Every approach I have is the same [from then ’til now]. I just stick to my coaches’ plans,” he added.

Rain or Shine jumped off to a 39-16 lead, faltered in the second frame, and then picked up steam in the second half where Nocum had a field day, highlighted by an acrobatic layup in the fourth quarter.

Thompson churned out 25 points for the Elasto Painters on top of 16 boards, four dimes, and a rejection, while Santillan registered 20.

Anton Asistio had a total of 18 points after helping the team create an early lead in the first quarter with a nine-point performance.

Rain or Shine’s record improved to 5-1, and they will aim to build on this win when they face the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Saturday, January 11. 

The Scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 122 – Thompson 25, Nocum 22, Santillan 20, Asistio 18, Tiongson 11, Clarito 9, Demusis 8, Caracut 6, Ildefonso 1, Belga 0, Norwood 0, Lemetti 0, Escandor 0

BLACKWATER 106 – King 35, Ayonayon 11, David 10, Chua 10, Escoto 9, Ponferrada 6, Suerte 6, Kwekuteye 5, Jopia 5, Hill 4, Casio 3, Corteza 2, Guinto 0

Quarter Scores: 39-25, 56-47, 94-79, 122-106

The Hiroshima Dragonflies dominated San Miguel Beermen, 94-63, to earn a Final Four ticket on Wednesday night, January 8, at the Hiroshima Sun Plaza, Japan.

Hiroshima's win also eliminated the winless SMB (0-4) out of contention in the next round.

The Dragonflies were led by the almost triple-double performance of Kerry Blackshear Jr., who produced 12 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, and three steals.

Nick Mayo and Keijiro Mitani both put up 18 markers to lead the Japanese team in scoring. Mayo also grabbed eight rebounds and issued two dimes, while Mitani stole the ball thrice.

On the other hand, San Miguel import Torren Jones paced the team with 24 points and 13 rebounds, while June Mar Fajardo added 12 markers and nine boards.

EASL Final Four 2025, set for March 7-9, will award a $1 million prize to the champion, $500,000 to the runner-up, and $250,000 for third place.

The scores:

HIROSHIMA 94 – Mayo 18, Mitani 18, Blackshear 12, Nakamura 11, Yamazaki 11, Watanabe 9, Kawata 7, Roberts 5, Ichikawa 3, Kamisawa 0, Takeuchi 0.

SAN MIGUEL 63 – Jones 24, Fajardo 12, Tiongson 9, Lassiter 4, Tautuaa 4, Ross 3, Perez 3, Teng 2, Cruz 2, Cahilig 0.

Quarter Scores: 30-18; 52-37; 68-51; 94-63.

Northport finally snapped a 14-game losing streak after a nail-biting 119-116 win over Ginebra with Joshua Munzon playing a huge role in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday night, January 8, at the Philsports Arena.

“It’s a statement win for us,” declared Batang Pier head coach Bonnie Tan, whose team maintained its lead in the rankings with its impressive 7-1 win-loss record.

Despite Northport's explosive 5-0 conference debut, there were questions regarding the team's legitimacy. Tan hopes that his Batang Pier's thrilling victory over the Gin Kings will ultimately diminish doubts.

"Everyone's questioning the status of the team, that we are not winning against the big teams. I hope with this win, we proved that we're here to win games," said Tan. "We're here to be competitive. We are not just here to participate."

In front of a hostile crowd in Pasig, the team’s success was centered on the formidable trio of import Kadeem Jack and local aces Arvin Tolentino and Munzon, with the latter assuming the role of main protagonist for the Batang Pier in one of their greatest victories in franchise history against the crowd darlings.

Munzon scattered 27 points on the stat sheets, along with two rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block, hailing him the Best Player of the Game.

“Going into the break, we knew that we will play a tough team in Ginebra, one of the better teams in the league. We’ve been preparing for them pretty much the whole break and all our hard work paid off tonight,” said Munzon.

“We were able to stick to the game plan and we made it happen,” he added.

Munzon’s efforts proved to be sufficient for the team as Tolentino, who finished with 29 markers and five boards prior to his exit, was fouled out in the closing seconds of the game.

Jack top scored for the Batang Pier, finishing with a game-high 39 points on top of 16 rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

Munzon and the Batang Pier have a chance to convert more skeptics into believers when they face another league contender in Meralco on Tuesday, January 14, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. 

The Scores:

NorthPort 119 – Jack 32, Tolentino 29, Munzon 27, Flores 9, Navarro 8, Bulanadi 5, Onwubere 4, Cuntapay 3, Yu 2, Nelle 0, Jalalon 0.

Ginebra 116 – Brownlee 23, Thompson 17, Rosario 17, Abarrientos 17, Ahanmisi 12, Holt 11, Cu 9, J.Aguilar 8, Tenorio 2.

Quarter Scores: 31-27, 67-58, 98-87, 119-116.

Import Donovan Smith powered the Phoenix Fuel Masters as they registered their second win over Terrafirma, 122-108, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday, January 7, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Smith spearheaded the scoring column of Phoenix after unloading a game-high 37 points on top of seven rebounds, five blocks, and three assists, spoiling the comeback attempt of the hapless Dyip.

“This is a new year and it's a fresh start,” Smith said during the post-game press conference.

“We can't worry about the last six games that already passed because it's in the past, so now we just have to focus on the next games coming ahead and just put our best foot forward and continue to build on this win that we have today,” he added.

Smith, however, made sure to give his teammates credit for their defensive efforts in addition to their scoring contributions as well as how their enhanced communication both on and off the court fueled them to climb up to 2-5 in the team standings.

“I was a lot more vocal on both ends of the floor, so I think that's what really contributed to us winning. Just holding guys accountable and having guys hold me accountable as well on both sides of the floor,” said Smith. “I feel like that's the biggest reason why we won today because we played together for 48 minutes.”

In addition to Smith’s valiant efforts, Jason Perkins tallied 16 markers, including 10 in the fourth period, helping the Fuel Masters overcome an 84-88 deficit. 

Ricci Rivero registered 14 points and five assists, with 10 of his points delivered in the closing minutes.

With 10:49 remaining, Perkins and Rivero led a crucial rally that put Phoenix ahead 93-86. The Fuel Masters continued to dominate until the final buzzer thanks to Smith's pivotal defensive plays to close out the game.

Terrafirma import Brandon Walton-Edwards had a double-double of 25 markers and 10 boards, while Louie Sangalang chipped in 22 in the loss.

Kenmark Carino returned to the Dyip with 11 points and seven rebounds after battling a knee injury to begin the conference.

The Scores:

PHOENIX 122 – Smith 37, Perkins 16, Rivero 14, Tio 10, Ballungay 10, Tuffin 8, Muyang 7, Jazul 4, Alejandro 4, Manganti 3, Daves 3, Garcia 2, Salado 2, Verano 2, Ular 0

TERRAFIRMA 108 – Walton-Edwards 25, Sangalang 22, Paraiso 16, Nonoy 12, Carino 11, Hernandez 7, Manuel 6, Melecio 5, Pringle 2, Ramos 2, Catapusan 0

Quarter Scores: 29-36, 60-49, 88-84, 122-108

Calvin Oftana helped the TNT Tropang Giga defeat the Meralco Bolts, 101-99, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday, January 7, at the Philsports Arena. 

Oftana matched Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s output by posting 24 points, hitting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, while adding four rebounds and two assists, earning him Player of the Game honors. 

"Those breaks, we don't take it as a break. We are also conditioning ourselves since the conference is still ongoing. That's our job and we're happy that we won today because it's our first game and our minds are still very much on the cloud. At least now, December is over," Oftana said during the post-game press conference.

TNT head coach Chot Reyes praised the team’s flexibility, especially in the second half as Meralco tightened their defense against Oftana. 

"In the second half, they [Meralco] never left Calvin. That's why we needed Roger [Pogoy] to step up and Jayson [Castro] hit that big three," said Reyes.

"That's how our game is, we empower our players to make plays and the key really is their selflessness and their awareness. They just have to be aware of what the situation is and then they have to be very willing," he added.

Meralco rallied to tie the game 99-all in the closing seconds after TNT, fresh off a 19-day break, took a commanding 23-point advantage early on. 

The two teams kept trading baskets until Cliff Hodge fouled Hollis-Jefferson. RHJ’s free throws with ten seconds remaining in the game gave the Tropang Giga the victory.

In a solid all-around performance, the TNT’s super import finished with 24 markers, 13 boards, and five dimes, with Rey Nambatac contributing 15 points in the win.

Import Akil Mitchell topped Meralco’s scoring column with 24 markers, 18 rebounds, and seven assists, while Chris Newsome chipped in 19 points and eight dimes in the losing cause.

TNT is set to battle Converge on Saturday, January 11, while Meralco will try to claw back when they go against NLEX on Friday, January 10.

The Scores:

TNT 101 – Hollis-Jefferson 24, Oftana 24, Nambatac 15, Pogoy 12, Castro 7, Erram 6, Galinato 5, Aurin 5, Khobuntin 3, Razon 0, Varilla 0.

MERALCO 99 – Mitchell 24, Newsome 19, Banchero 14, Quinto 12, Black 8, Hodge 6, Rios 5, Bates 4, Almazan 4, Cansino 3, Caram 0.

Quarter Scores: 27-17, 52-35, 79-68, 101-99.

Barangay Ginebra emerged victorious as they eked out a 95-92 win against the Magnolia Hotshots in their Christmas Clasico duel in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, December 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Scottie Thompson spearheaded the thrilling victory after firing a game-winning triple at the left corner as the fourth quarter buzzer sounded to complete the Gin Kings’ 22-point comeback, improving their record to 4-2.

RJ Abarrientos was named Player of the Game, finishing with 20 points and five assists. His valiant efforts helped the team escape its deep rut and cleared the path for Thompson. 

“They were designed for RJ to make a decision,” coach Tim Cone said of the final moments of the contest. “We put the game in RJ’s hands and he delivered with a great pass to Scottie.”

Ginebra cut its deficit in half to 67-78 as Abarrientos scored three consecutive three-pointers to conclude the third period. Then, in the decider round, Abarrientos sank eight more points before setting up Thompson for the shot that sent more than 12,000 fans into a frenzy.

It was also a noteworthy night for Thompson as he became the 32nd player in the league to reach the historic milestone of 2,000 assists.

Import Justin Brownlee registered a game-high 28 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists, while Thompson posted 14 markers, five boards and six dimes. 

The Hotshots, on the other hand, dropped to 2-5 slate.

Magnolia Import Ricardo Ratliffe led the Hotshots with 17 points, 16 rebounds, and four assists. Mark Barroca tallied 13, while Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang chipped in 11 apiece.

The Scores:

GINEBRA 95 – Brownlee 28, Abarrientos 20, Rosario 15, Thompson 14, J.Aguilar 8, Holt 5, M. Ahanmisi 5, Tenorio 0, Cu 0, Mariano 0.

MAGNOLIA 92 – Ratliffe 17, Barroca 13, Lee 11, Sangalang 11, Lucero 8, Balanza 8, Dela Rosa 7, Dionisio 6, Lastimosa 6, Abueva 5, J. Ahanmisi 0.

Quarter Scores: 24-30, 41-55, 67-78, 95-92.

Jordan Heading exhibited an all-around performance to power Converge past Meralco, 110-94, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, December 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Heading tallied a 30-game output for the FiberXers, along with five rebounds, and eight assists as they notched their fourth straight win in their first-ever Christmas Day appearance.

“I try to approach this game like I approach every game, which is part of being a professional: You have a routine and you try to stick to your routine every single game. Obviously, there’s a little excitement but I’m used to it for as long as I can remember,” the Filipino-Australian playmaker said as Converge rose to 6-2 in the midseason conference.

The FiberXers had a 20-point advantage, 94-74, with less than eight minutes left in the fourth period before the Bolts edged closer, 102-88, at the 2:57 mark.

However, charities from Heading and a basket from import Cheick Diallo further increased the gap, while Justin Arana's consecutive baskets with less than two minutes remaining ultimately secured the win.

The victory was more meaningful to head coach Franco Atienza due to the fact that the FiberXers upset a club of championship caliber like the Bolts.

“This is a championship-caliber team and they are plagued with injuries,” said Atienza. “Maybe we were lucky they were not in their best form, although they really competed now.” 

“We were just lucky that we got Meralco when they were not super 100 percent. Not taking anything away from them, but we believe they are a far better team,” he concluded.

Diallo backstopped Heading’s efforts by producing 24 markers and 18 boards, while top draft pick Justine Baltazar netted his season high, delivering 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal.

Meanwhile, returning import Akil Mitchell posted 29 markers and 18 boards as Meralco suffered its second straight loss after winning its first three games.

Bong Quinto and Cliff Hodge had 23 and 10, respectively, while Chris Newsome was only limited to nine points and five rebounds. 

The Scores:

CONVERGE 110 – Heading 30, Diallo 24, Baltazar 16, Winston 11, Stockton 10, Arana 7, Andrada 5, Racal 3, Delos Santos 2, Santos 2, Fornillos 0, Nieto 0, Ambohot 0, Caralipio 0, Javillonar 0.

MERALCO 94 – Mitchell 29, Quinto 23, Hodge 10, Newsome 9, Banchero 6, Maliksi 5, Reyson 3, Pascual 3, Black 2, Rios 2, Caram 2, Torres 0.

Quarter Scores: 26-20, 58-41, 85-66, 110-94.

Jayson Castro scored 16 points and made an immediate impact in his first game of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.

Castro added three steals and two assists in his return to help TNT Tropang Giga get the 109-93 victory over the Blackwater Bossing on Thursday night, December 19, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The nine-time PBA champion missed TNT's first three games due to hamstring issues.

TNT's all-around import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson supported Castro with his 22 points, nine rebounds, five dimes, five deflections, and a block.

Four more Tropang Giga scored in double digits to get their second straight victory of the tourney. Rey Nambatac contributed 19, Calvin Oftana provided 18, RR Pogoy put up 12, and Glenn Khobuntin added 10.

Meanwhile, Blackwater high-scoring import George King, who averaged 39 points per game, was only limited to a conference-low 28 markers on 10-of-22.

The Bossing also don't have their prized rookie Sedrick Barefield due to injury.

With King being handcuffed and Barefield not in the lineup, RK Ilagan stepped up and poured out 19 points highlighted by 3-of-3 shooting from the arc.

The game was the last of the year for both teams.

TNT will be back in action on January 7 against Meralco Bolts, while Blackwater will come back on January 8 to face Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Sweet-shooting guard Jordan Heading and import Cheick Diallo poured out 21 points each to lead Converge in their victory over the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 116-105, on Thursday night, December 19, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The win marked the first time that the FiberXers won back-to-back games in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup and improved their record to 4-2.

Besides Heading and Diallo, four more Converge players scored in double digits. Schonny Winston and Bryan Santos contributed 16 apiece, while Alec Stockton and BJ Andrade added 14 and 11, respectively.

Their twin towers, ace center Justin Arana and top pick rookie Justine Baltazar both came out with six markers.

"We give credit to our guys," said FiberXers acting head coach Franco Atienza, who admitted that he was anxious when Phoenix made a good start that led to a 20-2 lead.

"We just stuck on, we didn't panic. We returned to how we want to run our system, how to run our offense, our defense," Atienza added.

Converge will have a chance to extend their win streak when they face Barangay Ginebra on Saturday, December 21, in Batangas City, and against Meralco Bolts on Christmas day at the Big Dome.

Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell led Phoenix with 30 points and 18 rebounds. He was supported by RJ Jazul's 20, Tyler Tio's 13, and Ricci Rivero's 11. 

The Fuel Masters now have a 1-5 win-loss record after dropping their final game of the year.

The Scores:

CONVERGE 116 - Heading 21, Diallo 21, Winston 16, Santos 16, Stockton 14, Andrade 11, Arana 6, Baltazar 6, Racal 5, Delos Santos 0, Caralipio 0.

PHOENIX 105 - Smith 30, Jazul 20, Tio 13, Perkins 12, Rivero 11, Tuffin 8, Verano 4, Garcia 3, Soyud 2, Manganti 2, Salado 0, Alejandro 0, Muyang 0, Ular 0, Daves 0.

Quarter Scores: 15-30, 48-54, 87-80, 116-105.

San Miguel failed to earn its breakthrough win in the 2024-25 East Asia Super League (EASL) after bowing to Hong Kong Eastern, 62-71, at Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong, on Wednesday, December 18.

Kobey Lam spearheaded the pivotal comeback, registering 19 points, which gave the Hong Kong squad its first victory in the EASL game. 

Notwithstanding the efforts of June Mar Fajardo and recently signed import Torren Jones for San Miguel, Eastern maintained their lead.

After a difficult turn-around shot by Fajardo, the Beermen were able to cut the margin to just two points at 58-60 in the fourth quarter.

However, just when it appeared that San Miguel had the advantage, Lam blazed through when he scored five of Eastern’s 9-0 run.

Lam also posted three rebounds and one assist for the Hong Kong-based squad, with Chris McLaughlin tallying a double-double of 16 markers and 17 boards, while Glenn Yang contributed 11 for the home team. 

Fajardo and Jones led the charge for the Beermen with 19 points each, but their efforts were for naught as they failed to keep the team from suffering a third straight loss and dropping to the bottom of Group A.

The loss was the first in three games for Leo Austria since taking over as coach last week in place of Jorge Gallent.

San Miguel will aim to finally grab their first win in the EASL as they face the Hiroshima Dragonflies on January 8 at the Hiroshima Sun Plaza in Japan.

The Scores:

Hong Kong 71 – Lam 19, McLaughlin 16, Yang 11, Blankley 7, Xu 5, Leung 5, Chan 4, Zhu 4, Cheung 0, Pok 0, Guinchard 0. 

San Miguel 62 – Fajardo 19, Jones 19, Perez 8, Miller 5, Trollano 3, Tautuaa 3, Cahilig 3, Rosales 2, Ross 0, Lassiter 0. 

Quarter Scores: 28-14, 48-34, 60-48, 71-62. 

Busan KCC Egis captured their first win at the East Asia Super League (EASL) after defeating the Meralco Bolts, 72-68, thanks to the late-game heroics of Heo Ung on Wednesday night, December 18, at the Sajik Gymnasium in Busan, South Korea.

Busan led a spectacular comeback, winning the game by a commanding 19–2 run in the final four minutes of the game. 

Ung led the charge after sinking four straight triples, converting a 13-point deficit into their first win of the EASL season. 

The Bolts had the opportunity to turn the game around, but a series of missed opportunities and defensive errors allowed Busan to stage a rally.

Ung finished with a game-high 31 points, including his game-winning layup with 12 seconds left on the clock which propelled Busan ahead, 69-68, completing the comeback. 

Deonte Burton also added 26 markers, 14 rebounds, and five assists in the win.

DJ Kennedy led the charge for the Bolts with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Akil Mitchell contributed a double-double of 17 points and 18 rebounds that put Meralco in a 2-2 win-loss record. 

The Meralco Bolts will face the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the next EASL game on January 22. 

Busan, on the other hand, will try to claim their second straight win when they go against the Macau Black Bears on January 15.

The Scores:

Busan KCC 72 – Heo 31, Burton 26, Choi 5, Williams 4, Lee 4, Lee G. 2, Epistola 0, Jung 0.

Meralco 68 – Kennedy 23, Mitchell 17, Kouame 8, Newsome 5, Hodge 3, Quinto 3, Caram 3, Black 2, Bates 2, Caram 2.

Quarter Scores: 13-12, 31-31, 51-50, 72-68.

Barangay Ginebra got back on track after defeating Terrafirma Dyip, 114-98, in the ongoing PBA Season 49 Commissioners’ Cup held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last Wednesday night, December 18.

Justin Brownlee led Ginebra’s with 49 points, while RJ Abarrientos contributed 18 points, six assists and two steals, and Troy Rosario added 17 markers and five rebounds.

“We just wanted to bounce back and have a better outing. Tonight, I just found myself open a lot, so I just took advantage of that,” Brownlee said.

Ginebra improved to 3-1 in the standings as Terrafirma remained winless through six games.

The win was also a big challenge for the Gin Kings due to the absence of Japeth Aguilar and Stephen Holt, both of whom were injured last Sunday when they faced Hong Kong Eastern.

“We haven’t been able to assess as deeply as we want to assess, but neither of them were really to play tonight,” said coach Tim Cone. 

“It was a good win for us because we are missing two starters, two really important starters that have been contributing big time for us in Japeth and Stephen. There was a little bit of anxiety coming into this basketball game, wondering if we could match-up,” Cone added.

Meanwhile, Terrafirma’s import Brandon Edwards, scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Vic Manuel’s 19 points did not work for the Dyip.

Stanley Pringle’s 11 markers, nine dimes, and three steals went for naught in the first time that he faced his former team.

The scores:

Ginebra 114 - Brownlee 49, Abarrientos 18, Rosario 17, Thompson 8, Adamos 7, Pessumal 6, Mariano 5, Ahanmisi 4, Cu 0, Tenorio 0, Pinto 0.

Terrafirma 98 - Edwards 27, Manuel 19, Pringle 11, Hernandez 10, Ferrer 9, Paraiso 8, Ramos 5, Melecio 5, Sangalang 2, Catapusan 2, Olivario 0, Hanapi 0.

Quarter Scores: 26-20, 52-43, 85-69, 114-98.

Rain or Shine survived and continued their winning streak to three after defeating Magnolia, 102-100, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup last Wednesday night, December 18, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

The Elasto Painters improved their standings to 3-1 and sent the Hotshots to their fourth straight loss, putting them to a 1-4 win-loss record.

RoS Import Deon Thompson led the way, hitting 18 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks and three steals, while Santi Santillan had 17 points, and Andrei Caracut had 15 points, three assists and two rebounds.

“For most of the first half and third quarter, we had the game under control, actually. It’s just that the momentum we had lost towards the end of the third quarter went to them,” said coach Yeng Guiao.

Guiao was also referring to the 13-point lead they built, 79-66, at 3:56 of the third period that Magnolia erased to take a 98-86 advantage in the fourth quarter. But the Elasto Painters went on a 12-2 run to regain the lead at 102-100 with 3:26 left.

“The good thing about this (win) is that it was great when we came back. We got it back. Usually, if you were in our old team, when you collapse like that, you can’t come back,” said Guiao.

Meanwhile, Hotshots’ import Ricardo Ratliffe picked up his sixth and final foul at 2:46 left and coach Chito Victolero’s team couldn’t score again.

Paul Lee was forced to pass the ball to rookie Jerom Lastimosa who missed a four-point shot attempt at the final buzzer. Ratliffe’s 27 markers were wasted, while Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca 21 and 18 points, respectively.

Magnolia will next face the NLEX Road Warriors on Friday, December 20, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, while the Elasto Painters will again try to steal another win against the winless Terrafirma Dyip on Sunday, December 22, in the same venue.

The Scores :

RAIN OR SHINE 102 - Thompson 18, Santillan 17, Caracut 15, Tiongson 11, Nocum 10, Belga 7, Calrito 6, Datu 6, Lemetti 5, Malonzo 4, Asistio 2, Ildefonso 1.

MAGNOLIA 100 - Ratliffe 27, Sangalang 21, Barroca 18, Lucero 11, Abueva 8, Lee 4, Dionisio 4, Ahanmisi 4, Dela Rosa 2, Lastimosa 1, Laput 0.

Quarter Scores: 31-23, 50-47, 81-78, 102-100.

Cheick Diallo led the Converge FiberXers to a 102-91 victory over the NLEX Road Warriors in the ongoing PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup last Tuesday night, December 17, held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Diallo exploded for 37 points and 18 rebounds as Converge recorded a 3-2 win-loss record.

The FiberXers import dropped 12 in the fourth quarter of the game and spearheaded an 18-9 salvo that restored an 11-point cushion and extinguished the threat after the Road Warriors rallied to within two.

Converge coach Franco Atienza was pleased and happy with the result of the game and the resurgence of the 28-year-old former NBA player.

”We’re coming off a loss, so we just wanted to go back to where we were going. When you come off a loss, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth so we wanted to go back to what we’re doing right and see where you can improve. And tonight, we’re able to play together defensively and run our system on offense,” said Atienza. 

“We have five guys almost in double digits, and a good bounce-back game for [Diallo.] He proved himself right here.  We’re least bit worried about having his numbers because this is a great league, and sometimes you get scouted, and teams plan for you. Right now it just so happened that we’re getting him, we’re seeing him, and guys are feeding off his strength,” he added.

Alec Stockton converted 14 points and 11 assists while Jordan Heading had 14 points and 11 assists.

Meanwhile, the win also marked the first for top rookie pick Justine Baltazar, who had only four points, four assists and seven rebounds in 22:51 minutes of gameplay, after losing in his debut game against Northport last week.

The loss was NLEX’s second straight, which has left them with three wins and three losses, despite getting 36 points and 23 rebounds from import Mike Watkins and 26 markers from Robert Bolick.

The Scores:

Converge 102 – Diallo 37, Stockton 16, Heading 14, Caralipio 10, Winston 8, Racal 6, Baltazar 4, Arana 4, Santos 3, Delos Santos 0, Cabagnot 0, Nieto 0.

NLEX 91 – Watkins 36, Bolick 26, Semerad 8, Alas 7, Amer 4, Torres 4, Valdez 2, Rodger 2, Herndon 2, Bahio 0, Policarpio 0.

Quarter Scores:  28-18, 52-44, 77-72, 102-91.

Phoenix ended their winless streak and handed NorthPort their first loss 115-109 in the ongoing PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup last Tuesday night, December 17, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Phoenix’ win was led by import Donovan Smith who scored 32 points and 14 rebounds, while Jason Perkins was also admirable, posting 24 markers, four boards, three steals, and two assists, Kenneth Tuffin had 15 points and RJ Azul produced 14.

RJ Jazul was hailed as the Best Player of the Game with 14 points and five assists.

”Hindi naman sa amin scoring yung priority. We just needed leadership and composure kasi nung mga nakaraan, third and fourth quarter kami nawawala. Ngayon, we finally learned our lesson,” said Jazul. 

Phoenix’s coach Jamike Jarin thanked his players for recording their first win after four losses.

“I just like to commend all players. They deserve this, so we just have to give credit to our veterans, especially RJ Jazul. This is big, we were 0-4, so we really needed to climb up,” coach Jarin said.

Import Kadeem Jack’s 28 points and Arvin Tolentino’s 23 were not enough, while Joshua Munzon, Evan Nelle and Sidney Onwubere each had 11 markers for the Batang Pier. 

NorthPort still sits at the top of the team standings with a 5-1 record.

The Scores:

Phoenix 115 – Smith 32, Perkins 24, Tuffin 15, Jazul 14, Manganti 9, Soyud 7, Tio 5, Salado 4, Rivero 3, Verano 2, Daves 0, Ular 0, Alejandro 0, Garcia 0.

NorthPort 109 – Jack 28, Tolentino 23, Munzon 18, Nelle 15, Onwubere 11, Bulanadi 7, Navarro 3, Flores 2, Miranda 2, Yu 0, Cuntapay 0.

Quarter Scores: 29-21, 54-45, 84-76, 115-109.

The red-hot NorthPort Batang Pier will try to list the longest winning streak in their franchise history when they face the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup, tonight, 7:30 p.m, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.

NorthPort is coming off a 5-0 record, while the Phoenix remains ​​winless in their four games.

In the Batang Pier’s 108-101 rout of the FiberXers in their last game, Fil-Am guard Joshua Munzon scored a career-high 30 points, while Import Kadeem Jack also had 32 markers and 15 rebounds.

The other teams they defeated were NLEX with 3-2 standing, Terrafirma (0-5), Magnolia (1-3) and TNT with 1-2 win-loss record.

Meanwhile, the Fuel Masters will try to get into the win column after losing to guest team Eastern (4-1), Meralco (3-1), defending San Miguel (3-2) and Barangay Ginebra (2-0).

Suwon KT will have another import to contend in the EASL.

Ismael Romero will replace Jordan Morgan who suffered a hamstring injury in the Korean Basketball League in October.

Suwon KT signed Romero but has not played for the Sonic Boom since joining the team, and now KT is expected to finish the 2024-25 season with him alongside Rayshaun Hammonds, a 6-foot-9 forward acquired earlier this year. Hammonds averaged 22.8 points and 10.5 rebounds in EASL play.

Romero is from Cuba and became a naturalized citizen of Puerto Rico in 2021, and played under the Puerto Rican flag in the recent Paris Olympics, where he scored 12 points in a loss to the United States.

Throughout Romero's career, he has played for Puerto Rico and Mexico since going undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft. He was also a two-time BSN (Puerto Rico) champion (2020, 2022). In the 2015-16 season, the 6-foot-9 center also played for Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League, an affiliate organization of the Denver Nuggets.

Although KT Swon already owns Romero, he is expected to show off his skills in the EASL when the Sonic Boom next plays against Hong Kong Eastern on January 7, 2025.

The San Miguel won back-to-back games after defeating Blackwater Bossing in their encounter on Sunday night, December 15, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, 115-102.

Although George King led Blackwater with 40 points on 10-of-21 shooting, their local players still struggled. Sedrick Barefield made 7-of-16 for 17 points, and Christian David added 10 points.

Meanwhile, for the Beermen, eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo collected 27 points, 22 rebounds and six assists as SMB’s back-to-back wins gave them a 3-2 win-loss standing. SMB import Torren Jones, meanwhile, had 29 points and 14 rebounds.

The Beermen also had the opportunity to gain a big advantage because of their rebounding and their 28 offensive rebounds led to 28 second-chance points, where the Beermen continued to increase their advantage, which eventually reached 15 points, 113-98, on Fajardo's free throw.

According to Fajardo, they really wanted to win so they put in the 'collective effort of their team to get the win.

"Kailangang i-push ko 'yung sarili, dig deep kasi gusto naming manalo kasi pag natalo kami mahirap na. Collective effort ito ng team - players,coaching staff - kaya nakuha namin itong panalo," Fajardo said.

With the return of former SMB team consultant Leo Austria as SMB's head coach, he expressed that they were not happy with their win in the game against Bossing because of the high turnovers they made especially in the first half.

 "We're not so happy kasi 'yung turnovers namin mataas (17) and we're a little scrappy in the first half. Pero kahit ano pang sama ng laro, panalo. Kahit one point yan, a win is a win, what higit pa kung higit sa 10 puntos?" Austria said.

The Scores:

San Miguel 115 - Jones 29, Fajardo 27, Perez 15, Cruz 14, Trollano 11, Cahilig 8, Lassiter 5, Ross 4, Rosales 2, Tautuaa 0, Enciso 0, Brondial 0.

Blackwater 102 - King 40, Barefield 17, David 10, Ilagan 9, Chua 6, Ponferrada 6, Luck 5, Kwekuteye 5, Guinto 4, Casio 0, Scott 0, Hill 0.

Quarter Scores: 18-26, 55-48, 85-77, 115-102.

Hong Kong Eastern overcame the fierce defense and offense of Barangay Ginebra to claim a narrow victory in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Sunday night, December 15,  at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, 93-90.

Hayden Blankley's clutch free throws helped them escape defeat and secure a narrow victory.

Blankley led Eastern with 25 points, while Christopher McLaughlin had a whopping 20 points, 21 rebounds, six assists and two blocks.

Before the end of the fourth quarter, Blankley also saved the team with a layup to make it 91-86, but the Gin Kings quickly responded with four free throws to make it 91-90 with four seconds left.

With the win, Eastern now has a 5-1 win-loss record.

According to Hong Kong Eastern head coach, Mensur Bajramovic, it was a big deal for them to get the win against Ginebra and they were happy with the result of their game because they trusted in their plan prepared for the Gin Kings.

“We made a plan knowing that Ginebra is a good team. They have individual players and they have a good style offensively and defensively. We tried in the past few days to make a plan on how to play against them. I’m happy the players believed and trust in the plan,” said coach Bajramovic. 

For the Gin Kings, Japeth Aguilar led Ginebra with 26 points on a solid 9-of-13 clip, but he limped back to the bench before the final buzzer, while Justin Brownlee was held back, making just six of his 23 field goals for 18 points and 12 rebounds.

On Friday, December 20, Eastern will try to snap Northport's four-straight win streak, while Barangay Ginebra will travel to the Batangas City Coliseum to take on the Converge FiberXers on Saturday, December 21.

The scores:

Eastern 93 - Blankley 25, McLaughlin 20, Cao 14, Yang 11, Lam 8, Chan 6, Guinchard 5, Leung 3, Xu 1, Zhu 0.

Barangay Ginebra 90 - J. Aguilar 26, Brownlee 18, Holt 14, Abarrientos 12, Rosario 12, Thompson 8, Cu 0, Adamos 0, Ahanmisi 0.

Quarter Scores: 26-25, 54-44, 73-67, 93-90.