San Miguel falls to South Korea’s KT Sonicboom in EASL opener

South Korea’s Suwon ST Sonicboom against Philippine side San Miguel Beermen in the EASL Season 2 game. –KT SONICBOOM INSTAGRAM

San Miguel Beer’s return to the international stage was spoiled by South Korea’s Suwon ST Sonicboom after an 87-81 loss in the opener of the East Asia Super League Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Beermen couldn’t sustain a strong first half powered by import EJ Anosike as they were forced to play catch up by the Korean Basketball League side before falling short in their comeback bid in the fourth quarter.

Marcio Lassiter knocked down a three that put San Miguel behind 75-73 with 5:42 left in the final period, but Heo Hoon responded with a shot from the same distance that triggered a Suwon pullaway.

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Anosike’s 34 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in the San Miguel defeat that came two days after a heartbreaking collapse against Converge in Game 3 of the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals.

In that game, the Beermen led by 27 in the second half before the FiberXers mounted a stunning rally that ended on a Alec Stockton buzzer-beater.

Rayshaun Edwards, who stands at 6-foot-9, had 39 points and 14 rebounds for the Sonicboom while also engaging in an interior battle with Beermen star June Mar Fajardo in the paint.

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Edwards also connected on a three that gave Suwon an 87-75 lead near the final two minutes of the contest.

Hoon added 17 points and nine assists for the Sonicboom, the former team of Dave Ildefonso who was also a finalist in last season’s KBL.

Fajardo finished with 19 points and nine rebounds for San Miguel as its focus shifts back to the domestic scene on Friday with Game 4 of the quarters at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Quincy Miller, San Miguel’s second import used for this competition, scored eight points but shot just 2-of-12 from the field.