A couple of days after an upset loss to the Converge FiberXers in the PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals, the San Miguel Beermen have to find their bearings in the EASL opener against KBL runners-up, Suwon KT Sonicboom.
The San Miguel Beermen, just a couple of days after absorbing a tough loss to young team Converge FiberXers in the PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals, will be welcoming KBL runners-up Suwon KT Sonicboom to kick off the 2024-25 EASL season this Wednesday.
San Miguel Beermen: Bounce back mode
The San Miguel Beermen enter the EASL opener as the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup, but fatigue could play a factor.
The Beermen are coming off an ongoing PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals series against the Converge FiberXers, as the young team clinched their first-ever playoffs victory in Game 3 last Monday, September 30.
The winningest team in the PBA is now face the challenge of juggling both leagues, with Game 4 of the Governors' Cup quarterfinals scheduled for October 4 and the EASL opener on October 2. They are also the oldest squad in the EASL with an average age of 32.45 years.
Despite this, San Miguel remains a formidable force. Eight-time PBA MVP and 6-foot-11 center June Mar Fajardo continues to dominate, currently in the running for his 11th Best Player of the Conference award.
Meanwhile, veteran sharpshooter Marcio Lassiter recently made history by surpassing Jimmy Alapag as the PBA’s all-time 3-point leader with 1,251 career triples.
EJ Anosike won't be alone as reinforcement. San Miguel’s second import, Quincy Miller, brings NBA pedigree and EASL experience. The 31-year-old forward, drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2012, has previously played with the Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons. In his last EASL stint with TNT Tropang Giga, Miller averaged 28.3 points and 9.5 rebounds.
Suwon KT Sonicboom: Hungry for glory
The Suwon KT Sonicboom are coming off a strong campaign in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), finishing as runners-up in the 2023-24 season. They fell short in the finals, losing to the Busan KCC Egis in five games.
Suwon’s newly-formed Big Three—Heo Hoon, Rashaun Hammonds, and Ha Yungi—will look to lead their team to victory.
Captain and star guard Heo Hoon, who averaged 26.6 points in last season’s KBL finals, is the heart of Suwon’s offense.
Meanwhile, 6-foot-9 forward Rashaun Hammonds adds versatility to the squad. A former member of the Indiana Pacers’ NBA G-League affiliate Fort Wayne Mad Ants, he brings championship experience, having won the 2022 Latvian Basketball League (LBL) title.
At center, Ha Yungi is another key player for Suwon, averaging just under 15 points per game. His battle with Fajardo in the paint will be one of the key matchups to watch.
The 2024-25 East Asia Super League (EASL) season kicks off on October 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena with the Group A opener between the San Miguel Beermen and Suwon KT Sonicboom. The two basketball powerhouses will clash at 6:10 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]