San Miguel Beermen are 0-4 in the EASL. –EASL via PBA website
MANILA, Philippines–San Miguel Beer ended its bid for a Final Four spot in the East Asia Super League (EASL) Home and Away Season 2 after absorbing a beatdown at the hands of reigning Japanese B.League kings, Hiroshima Dragonflies.
The Dragonflies routed the Beermen on their home court, 94-63, at Hiroshima Sun Plaza on Wednesday to send San Miguel Beer crashing out of the semifinal race.
With a 0-4 positioning in Group A, the Beermen won’t be able to rack up enough wins for a Final Four spot even if they sweep their last two games of the season.
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Hiroshima, meanwhile, became the second team in the EASL to punch a ticket to the next phase with a 4-1 record.
The Dragonflies’ B.League rivals, Ryukyu Golden Kings was the first team to advance with an identical 4-1 card in Group B.
Kejiro Mitani and Nick Mayo spearheaded Hiroshima for the win with 18 points each. Kerry Blackshear Jr. also flirted with a triple-double to the tune of 12 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists in the Dragonflies’ dominant dub.
READ: San Miguel loses to Japan’s Ryukyu by 28 points in EASL
SMB’s lone import, Torren Jones, did the heavy lifting for the Beermen with a double-double of 24 points and 13 rebounds but to no avail.
Reigning PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo struggled mightily with just 12 points and nine rebounds, sinking just three of his seven tries from the field.
While the race for a semis ticket ends for the Beermen, they will still have a tough schedule ahead on January 15 against Hong Kong Eastern and on February 12 against Korean Basketball League’s Suwon KT Sonicboom.