MANILA – Glen Yang took over offensively for Hong Kong Eastern in the overtime period as they pulled off a 99-91 victory over San Miguel Beermen in the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Down 87-89 after a basket by Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo early in the overtime period, Yang converted two consecutive layups to give the HK Eastern a 91-89 lead before Hayden Blankley converted a free throw and a basket for a 94-89 spread.
After a basket by Beermen reinforcement Jabari Narcis, the HK Eastern wrapped up the victory with another basket from Blankley and a three-point conversion from Yang with over a minute left.
Yang finished the game with 26 points, including four three-point conversions, to go with four rebounds, four assists, and two steals to be named Player of the Game as the HK Eastern improved to a 6-2 win-loss slate.
Christopher McLaughlin added a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, Blankley contributed 15 markers, while Kobey Lam and Siu Wang Chan had 13 and 10, respectively, for the HK Eastern.
Narcis tallied 28 points and 10 rebounds, Fajardo added 23 points and 18 boards, while Jaymar Perez and Marcio Lassiter had 18 and 13, respectively, as the Beermen dropped to a 3-3 record.
Meanwhile, Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots halted their losing run with a 99-95 overtime win against NLEX Road Warriors. The Hotshots improved to a 2-4 record, while the Road Warriors dropped to 3-4.
After failing to close out the game in regulation, the Hotshots surged to a 95-87 start in the extension period on a split free throw by Calvin Abueva and baskets from Jerom Lastimosa, Ricardo Ratliffe, and Zavier Lucero.
The Road Warriors responded with a triple from Michael Watkins and a five-point play from Robert Bolick to take a 95-94 lead, but the Hotshots regained the advantage on a layup by Andy Mark Barroca and free throws by Lastimosa and Lucero.
Ratliffe led the Hotshots with 38 points, Lucero added 14 markers, while Lastimosa and Barroca ended with 13 and 12, respectively, as they snapped a four-game losing skid./PN
BOX SCORE:
EASTERN 99 – Yang 26, McLaughlin 18, Blankley 15, Lam 13, Chan 10, Pok 6, Cao 5, Guinchard 3, Zhu 2, Cheung 1, Xu 0.
SAN MIGUEL 91 – Narcis 28, Fajardo 23, Perez 18, Lassiter 13, Rosales 3, Trollano 2, Tautuaa 2, Cruz 2, Ross 0, Tiongson 0, Brondial 0, Cahilig 0.
Quarterscores: 22-20, 51-41, 69-64, 98-87, 99-91.
