Eastern may have been troubled by the Manila traffic but it hardly showed in the guest team's disposal of TNT in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
Eastern had its first taste of the holiday traffic jam in Manila on a Friday, Dec. 6.
With the Christmas rush aggravating the already horrendous traffic situation in the city, the guest team arrived late at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate and went straight to warm up before its match against TNT in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
Fortunately, that hardly affected the Hong Kong-based squad's performance as it blasted TNT, 105-84, to get back on track after stumbling to Rain or Shine just two days ago.
[RELATED STORY: Eastern bounces back, spoils TNT’s PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup debut]
Eastern improved to 3-1 while spoiling the Tropang Giga’s conference debut.
“We now know Manila very well,” said Eastern coach Bensur Bajramovic about the traffic, drawing laughter from the members of the press.
The visitors did come out relatively slow before riding a 26-16 third period to build the separation.
That surge was made possible may Ramon Cao, who dropped 12 of his 17 points in the pivotal frame.
Ramon Cao is the Player of the Game in Eastern's bounce-back win against TNT in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Friday, Dec. 6. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Eastern then opened up the fourth period with a quick 6-0 run highlighted by an emphatic Hayden Blankley two-handed flush to push further ahead, 79-63.
Not long after, TNT coach Chot Reyes decided to field in his shock troopers, including debuting rookie Jielo Razon to finish the game.
While Cao stole the spotlight, Cameron Clark was the topscorer for Eastern with 36 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and a block.
Blankley turned in 24 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and three blocks, while returning Glen Yang put up 19 points that went with six rebounds, eight assists and a steal.
“Main reason why we played well on defense [is] we’re switching well. Offensively, ball movement was much better than last game,” said Bajramovic.
Tropang Giga import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson finished with 33 points and seven rebounds, but he ran out of ways to help his squad get over the hump.
Kim Aurin added 12 points.
The Scores:
EASTERN 105 – Clark 36, Blankely 24, Yang 19, Cao 17, Cheung 3, Lam 3, Xu 2, Zhu 1, Guinchard 0, Sulaiman 0, Chan 0.
TNT 84 – Hollis-Jefferson 33, Aurin 12, Pogoy 9, Oftana 7, Exciminiano 4, Ebona 4, Erram 4, Galinato 3, Razon 2, Nambatac 2, Heruela 0, Varilla 0, Payawal 0.
Quarterscores: 21-22, 47-47, 73-63, 105-84