Eastern eyes continued dominance in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup, as the basketball calendar finally turns to 2025.
Eastern looks to maintain its winning ways as it takes on the Meralco Bolts in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday, January 5, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Ball game tips off at 5:00 p.m.
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Eastern, currently boasting a 6-2 record, is fresh off a gritty 99-91 victory over San Miguel last Dec. 22 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The win capped an intense stretch of four games in just eight days for the Hong Kong-based team, which included a homestand against the same Beermen in the East Asia Super League.
[ALSO READ: Eastern caps hectic sched with repeat over SMB: 'We showed more of who we really are’]
Coach Mensur Bajramovic praised his team’s defensive intensity, emphasizing their ability to adapt and neutralize the Beermen’s offensive weapons.
“Our target was to play defense with more energy, and we did it pretty good,” Bajramovic said.
With Hayden Blankley, Chris McLaughlin, and Glen Yang leading Eastern’s balanced attack, they aim to stay near the top of the standings and overcome a Meralco squad desperate to end its slump.
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(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]