PBA: Guest team Hong Kong Eastern off to winning start

Hong Kong Eastern’s Cameron Clark in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.–PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Behind key players with experience playing in the Philippines, guest team Hong Kong Eastern got its PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign off to a good start after taking down Phoenix, 102-87, Wednesday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Eastern leaned on former NLEX and San Miguel Beer Cameron Clark plus help from ex-Bay Area Dragons mainstay Hayden Blankley to win its first match in the midseason conference where it will aim to become just the second foreign club to capture a PBA crown.

Clark had 25 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks while Blankley produced 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks for the reigning holders of the Hong Kong A1 Championship and East Asia Super League participant.

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Glen Yang, another former Bay Area player, added 13 points, six rebounds, seven assists and two steals while Yin Lung Cheung scored 11 for Eastern.

Coach Mensur Bajramovic and his Eastern squad opened a busy stretch where after it plays Converge Friday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium is set to return to Hong Kong for a domestic league schedule over the weekend.

Import Donovan Smith registered 33 points and 11 rebounds but the Fuel Masters lost after trailing by a high of 21.

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Phoenix did cut the deficit to 49-45 at the half, but Eastern took command in the third with Blankley scoring 10 to pull away.

Jason Perkins posted 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals for Phoenix in the defeat.

The Fuel Masters face the Meralco Bolts on Friday at Ninoy Aquino.