Hong Kong Eastern repeats over San Miguel

MANILA, Philippines -- Hong Kong Eastern remains to be a thorn in the side of the San Miguel Beermen.

Hong Kong outlasted the Beermen in overtime, 99-91, in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup duel Sunday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Eastern repeated their win over San Miguel just a few days ago, when Hong Kong defeated the Philippine squad in the East Asia Super League.

Glen Yang spearheaded the PBA’s guest team with 26 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in about 48 minutes of play. Chris McLaughlin added 18 markers, 11 boards, five steals, three dimes and a swat.

The Beermen drew first blood in the overtime period, with a short shot by June Mar Fajardo breaking the ice, 89-87.

However, Yang and Blankley teamed up and uncorked a 9-0 run capped by the latter’s five straight points to give the advantage fully on the side of Eastern, 96-89, wth 1:18 left.

Debuting import Jabari Narcis finally stopped the run for San Miguel with a deuce, 91-96, with 1:05 remaining, but Yang hit a backbreaking triple to shut the door on any comeback attempt, 99-91, with 43.5 seconds to go.

Blankley had 15 points for Hong Kong, while Kobey Lam chipped in 13 off the bench. Siu Wing Chan added 10 in 41 minutes.

Narcis flexed his might in his first PBA game with 28 points and 10 rebounds in almost 50 minutes of play. June Mar Fajardo added 23, while CJ Perez and Marcio Lassiter had 18 and 13, respectively.

San Miguel trailed by nine, 69-78, in the first four minutes of fourth quarter after a triple by Siu.

But an 8-0 run capped by a Lassiter triple made it a one-point game, 77-78.

The two teams then traded baskets, before Siu and McLaughlin teamed up to make it an 85-79 lead with 4:08 remaining in the fourth.

But San Miguel stormed back, unleashing an 8-2 run capped by a 3-pointer by Perez with 1:26 left in regulation to send the game into overtime, but ultimately, they ran out of gas.

Eastern rose to 6-2 in the season, while the Beermen dropped to 3-3.

Both teams will see action next year. The former will take on Meralco next, while the latter will face Barangay Ginebra.

Both games will be on January 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.