Meralco, San Miguel split EASL assignments

c/o EASL

Philippine teams ended up with a split in the opening doubleheader for the East Asia Super League Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The opening match featured Suwon KT Sonicboom defeat San Miguel Beermen, 87-81, with Rayshaun Hammonds scoring a game-high 39 points and grabbing fourteen rebounds to lead the KBL side to their first-ever victory in the league.

Trailing at the half, 39-43, the newcomer would help jumpstart a 13-4 run to start the third period, wresting the lead at 52-47. They would eventually finish with a 68-62 lead at the end of the period. His triple off a Heo Hoon pass gave the Sonicboom a commanding 87-75 lead to effectively secure the win.

Hoon and Han Huiwon provided additional firepower for Suwon, combining for 31 points to help backstop Hammonds in scoring.

Hoon almost ended up with a double-double with seventeen points and nine assists, showcasing why he is one of the better playmakers in the continent, whilst Huiwon ended up with fourteen points off his sniping from deep.

Former Sonicboom reinforcement EJ Anosike was proven to be a major force, especially early on. He score ten points in the first quarter, then tacked on thirteen more in the next period, to help secure the lead heading into the break. Unfortunately, fellow reinforcement Quincy Miller struggled in his first stint with the Beermen, finishing with just eight points in over thirty minutes of foul trouble-plagued action.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Meralco Bolts snapped up a 97-85 victory over the Macau Black Bears, behind the efforts of Chris Newsome, who led the team with eighteen points and six assists.

The Philippine Cup Finals MVP got adequate help in holding off the debutants. Both reinforcements Allen Durham and DJ Kennedy each chipped in seventeen points, with the former adding eleven rebounds and the latter bucking a rough shooting night by stuffing the sheets with nine rebounds and seven assists.

Chris Banchero chipped in with fourteen markers, while Ange Kouame tacked on nine points and nine rebounds whilst taking on the responsibility of dealing with the towering Sam Deguara.

Macau managed to keep pace with Meralco for most of the game, but the Bolts eventually pulled away in the final period, breaking the game open from a manageable 80-72 lead. 

The win matches Meralco's lone victory last season, which came against the Ryukyu Golden Kings, 97-88. They will have a chance to double that total against this same B.LEAGUE team when they travel to Okinawa to play them on October 16.

As for San Miguel, they will seek to bounce back in continental action as they host P. LEAGUE+ side Taoyuan Pauian Pilots on November 13 at the PhilSports Arena.