The San Miguel Beermen fail to break through and are officially out of semis contention in the ongoing 2024-25 EASL season, suffering a sorry loss at the hands of B.LEAGUE champion Hiroshima.
The San Miguel Beermen are no longer in the running for a spot in the semifinals of the ongoing 2024-25 EASL season after a sorry loss at the hands of reigning B.LEAGUE champions Hiroshima Dragonflies, 94-63, at the Hiroshima Sun Plaza on Wednesday night.
Skidding to a 0-4 record, San Miguel can no longer catch current Group A second placers Taoyuan Pauian Pilots who already have three wins. Only the top-two in each group move on to the knockout rounds.
Hiroshima is currently atop the Group A standings at 4-1 and already assured of a semis spot. The Dragonflies join B.LEAGUE Finals rival Ryukyu Golden Kings from Group B to the next round.
The Dragonflies jumped to a flying start against the Beermen as they seized a double digit lead right in the first quarter, 30-18.
They then proceeded to win every quarter, including a 26-12 beatdown in the fourth to ensure a comfortable victory on their home floor.
Five different Hiroshima players breached double-digit scoring in the big win over San Miguel led by Nick Mayo and Keijiro Mitani who had 18 markers each. Kerry Blackshear Jr. was an assist short of the triple double with 12 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists.
Torren Jones and June Mar Fajardo were the only San Miguel players in twin digit scoring, with Jones finishing with the double-double of 24 points and 13 boards.
Fajardo had 12 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks in the losing effort.
San Miguel will thus play for nothing else but pride when the Beermen once again face Hong Kong Eastern in their next game of EASL action on Wednesday, January 15, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.