55-point rout of Beermen ends Filipino teams’ EASL stint

KBL’s Anyang KGC and PBA’s San Miguel Beermen in an EASL Champions Week game. –PBA IMAGES

OKINAWA, JAPAN—San Miguel Beer surrendered a little over 3.5 points per minute Saturday in the East Asia Super League Champions Week here.

The pace by which the Beermen allowed Korean club Anyang KGC to get buckets wasn’t lost on CJ Perez.

“It’s truly frustrating. In just a short span of 40 minutes, we gave up that much? And we were not making our shots and the [enemy] were. Our defense was terrible as well,” Perez told reporters shortly after the Philippine Cup champions were beaten black and blue by Anyang KGC, 142-87, in a match that hardly looked like a contest at Okinawa Arena here.

Abando shines

Omari Spellman and Filipino wingman Rhenz Abando keyed the rout of the Beermen, taking turns in an 18-point attack halfway through the opening quarter that left San Miguel groping for answers.

Spellman was at the cutting edge of Anyang’s blade, putting up 53 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, while Abando, signed by Anyang out of Letran College, chipped in 22 points, five rebounds and two assists as the Korean club cruised to the 55-point victory.

“To be honest, I told my coaches and my teammates that I was nervous. But the [team] captain told us that we’re a team and that they’re with me,” Abando said in Filipino. “There was also pressure because I’m not yet in top condition.”

“But that was really key—the head coach talked to me yesterday, telling me to just play and that he trusts me. I think that’s why I played well today,” he added.