Though it parades three players from the Bay Area side in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup, Eastern is a completely different team.
No, Eastern is not Bay Area 2.0.
This was the message the latest guest team in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup tried to send in its smashing 102-87 opening win over Phoenix on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
“I saw some comments [saying] we’re Bay Area 2.0. We are not,” said Eastern coach Mensur Bajramovic after the match at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
“We’re are purely Hong Kong team with some additional power.”
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Hayden Blankley, who also suited up for Bay Area, echoed Barjamovic’s sentiments.
“It’s a very different team. Bay Area team was blessed with some mainland Chinese players that are all over 6-foot-6, some 7-footers,” said Blankley, who also played with high-octane imports Miles Powell and Andrew Nicholson.
Still, Eastern gave fans some Bay Area vibes.
After all, the Dragons also breezed its way one opponent after another before falling short against Ginebra in the Finals two seasons ago.
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Cameron Clark led the team with 25 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks, while Blankley put up 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
Glenn Yang, who was also part of the Bay Area side that fell short against the Gin Kings, had 13 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
After a tight first half, Eastern went berserk in the third period where it built the separation.
Entering the final period, the visiting team had a 77-65 advantage it never relinquished.
“I hope we will be better each game,” said Barjamovic.
Meanwhile, reinforcement Donovan Smith paced the Fuel Masters with 33 points, 11 rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block.
His efforts went for naught.
Jason Perkins backstopped him with 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
The Scores:
EASTERN 102 – Clark 25, Blankley 18, Yang 13, Cheung 11, Lam 8, Cao 8, Xu 8, Guinchard 5, Leung 3, Chan 3, Sulaiman 0, Pok 0
PHOENIX 87 – Smith 33, Perkins 22, Rivero 10, Alejandro 8, Tuffin 4, Garcia 3, Ballungay 2, Manganti 2, Tio 2, Jazul 1, Camacho 0, Daves 0, Ular 0, Muyang 0, Verano 0
Quarterscores: 23-14, 49-45, 77-65, 102-87