Hong Kong Eastern solidified its position in the race for one of the two Final Four spots with a commanding 84-74 victory over the San Miguel Beermen. The win marks Eastern's third consecutive triumph while handing SMB its fifth straight loss in their third meeting within a month.

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Eastern quickly surged to an 11-1 lead in the early minutes and maintained control throughout the first half. However, with 3:29 left in the game, SMB cut what was once a double-digit lead down to 75-68. Despite the Beermen's efforts, Hong Kong remained composed and executed key defensive stops in the final moments, securing the victory.

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Post-game Triple 

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Season Sweep 

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With the win, Hong Kong Eastern has completed a sweep of the EASL season series against San Miguel. In their first matchup on December 18 at home, Eastern secured a 71-62 victory, led by shooting guard Kobey Lam’s team-high 19 points.

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Wednesday’s game followed a pattern strikingly similar to their December meeting. Eastern built an early commanding lead but faltered late, requiring clutch performances from their stars to seal the win.

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Outside of EASL competition, Hong Kong Eastern is also competing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup as a guest team. Notably, Eastern faced San Miguel in an overtime thriller during PBA play, emerging victorious and marking the second of third straight wins over SMB.

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SMB’s Slow Start 

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San Miguel head coach Leovino Austria didn’t hold back in criticizing his team’s performance, attributing their loss to a sluggish start. Just over three minutes into Wednesday’s matchup against Hong Kong Eastern, the Beermen trailed 11-1. Their first field goal came four minutes into the game when forward Torren Jones earned an and-one opportunity.

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This wasn’t the first time a slow start had cost San Miguel. On Jan. 8 against the B.LEAGUE’s Hiroshima Dragonflies, the Beermen fell behind 30-18 in the first quarter. In their initial meeting with Eastern on Dec. 18, they trailed 22-12 within the first eight minutes. Earlier still, in a 101-85 defeat to the P. LEAGUE+’s Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, SMB went into halftime facing a 57-33 deficit.

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Already eliminated from postseason contention and with just one regular-season game remaining on Feb. 12, another slow start could put San Miguel at risk of finishing with a winless 0-6 record. 

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Fighting For Final Four 

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With Wednesday’s win over San Miguel, Hong Kong Eastern remains in contention for a Final Four spot in Group A. After beginning the regular season 0-2 with back-to-back losses to the Hiroshima Dragonflies, Eastern has rebounded with a three-game winning streak, leaving them with one regular-season game remaining.

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However, the path ahead is challenging. Eastern will face the former Group A leaders, the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, in an away game on February 5. A loss would mark their third defeat, eliminating them from postseason contention. A win, however, could secure a playoff berth, marking a remarkable achievement for the expansion team in its inaugural campaign.

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EASL Player of the Game: Chris McLaughlin — Hong Kong Eastern

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Chris McLaughlin played a pivotal role in Hong Kong Eastern’s victory over SMB on Wednesday, recording 15 points and 17 rebounds. This double-double marked his fifth consecutive, showcasing his continued dominance as one of the league’s top big men on both ends of the floor.

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Defensively, McLaughlin was instrumental in limiting the impact of San Miguel and Philippine star June Mar Fajardo. While Fajardo finished as his team’s top scorer, McLaughlin repeatedly forced him into difficult shots, disrupting the rhythm of the opposition’s best player.

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As part of Hong Kong’s current three-game win streak — the longest active streak in the EASL — McLaughlin has been named Player of the Game twice during this stretch.

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Stat of the Game: 24

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Hong Kong Eastern recorded a season-high 24 assists in their victory over San Miguel, surpassing their previous best of 19 assists achieved in a surprise 69-61 win against the Suwon KT Sonicboom on January 7.

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Throughout the game, Eastern excelled at moving the ball around the perimeter, consistently finding open teammates for high-percentage opportunities. The guards also demonstrated exceptional effectiveness in pick-and-roll plays with Chris McLaughlin. On the perimeter, Eastern's sharp ball movement forced San Miguel’s defense into a constant state of rotation, leading to 22 three-point attempts. 

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Remarkably, every player who stepped on the court for Hong Kong attempted at least one shot from beyond the arc.

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Next Games: 

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San Miguel Beermen 

• Away vs. Suwon KT Sonicboom (KBL) — Feb. 12, 2025 

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Hong Kong Eastern 

• Away vs. Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (P. LEAGUE+) — Feb. 5, 2025