Ramon Cao and Hayden Blankley delivered stellar performances, scoring 23 points each, to lead Hong Kong Eastern to a commanding 133-110 victory over Terrafirma on Friday evening at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The win secured Eastern a berth in the 49th Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals, marking their seventh win in 10 games.
Despite the early exit of Chris McLaughlin due to an apparent knee injury just five minutes into the game, Eastern showcased resilience, quickly adapting to his absence.
With the victory, Eastern shares a 7-3 win-loss record with NorthPort and Converge, all tied for the second spot in the standings. NorthPort and Converge have also clinched their places in the playoffs’ first round.
Guard Kobey Lam contributed a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists, while Steven Guinchard matched Lam’s scoring output, further solidifying Eastern’s dominance.
Eastern’s defense stepped up in the third quarter, holding the Dyip to just 10 points in the final six minutes and pulling away with a 10-point lead, 89-79, entering the final period.
Cao and Lam continued their offensive surge in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 points each, allowing Eastern to extend their lead to 111-92 before sealing the win.
“For now, we are still looking at the playoffs for the first two spots,” said Eastern’s head coach, Mensur Bajramovic, as his team eyes a strong finish heading into the postseason.