PBA: Hong Kong clobbers Terrafirma to wrap up grueling stretch
Hong Kong Eastern’s Ramon Cao during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against Terrafirma. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Hong Kong showed no signs of exhaustion on Friday night, crushing league doormat Terrafirma with its collective might, 134-110, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Eastern saw each one of its players contributing in the blowout at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, with Ramon Cao leading the way with 27 points and seven rebounds as the guest club locked up on a quarterfinal berth.
Kobey Lam and Steven Guinchard both finished with 20 points while Hayden Blankley, Hao Zhu, and Yuet Yeung Pok all finished with at least 11 each in the win that improved their record to seven wins against three losses.
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Hong Kong Eastern’s Hayden Blankley in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against Terrafirma. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Playmaker Glen Yang had seven points and eight assists while import Chris McLaughlin just two points throughout five minutes of action, allowing the rest of the team to feast on their foes, chalking up a second win after playing their third game in three days.
Before Terrafirma, Hong Kong defeated San Miguel, 84-74, in a East Asia Super League clash last Wednesday. Eastern then fell to Winling in a domestic league, 97-78, before the rout of the Dyip in Pasig.
Import Brandon Edwards had 26 points and 17 rebounds while Aljun Melecio chipped in 17 more for Terrafirma which lost its 11th match, moving one more defeat away from yet another winless conference.
Hong Kong next plays Magnolia nine days from now before wrapping up their elimination round bid against NLEX on Jan. 29.
The Scores:
EASTERN 134 – Cao 23, Blankley 23, Lam 20, Guinchard 20, Zhu 13, Pok 11, Leung 9, Yang 7, Chan 6, Xu 4, Cheung 3, McLaughlin 2.
TERRAFIRMA 110 – Edwards 26, Melecio 17, Pringle 16, Sangalang 13, Ferrer 12, Carino 9, Romeo 8, Paraiso 3, Hernandez 3, Manuel 2, Catapusan 1, Nonoy 0
Quarterscores: 24-24, 57-53, 88-79, 134-110.
