ABRA Weavers scored a wire-to-wire 79-72 win over Hong Kong Eastern for a rousing debut in the East Asia Super League Home and Away Season 4, Saturday night at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena.
Import Jaylen Johnson and Freddie Ibrahim had 14 points each, while DJ Fenner added 13 and naturalized player Malick Diouf with 12 rebounds for the Weavers, who were in control of the low-scoring game from start to finish.
The win put the reigning MPBL champion right on top of Group C as the continental tournament kicked off its new season in the Queen City of the South.
READ: Abra, HK Eastern in heated exchange over practice time 'mix-up'
6-foot-11 import Michael Eric had 10 points and five rebounds, while reigning MPBL MVP Dave Ildefonso with nine points and four rebounds.
Akili Vining erupted for 26 points and eight assists, while Jenning Leung had 20 on 6-of-13 shooting from three-point range for Hong Kong Eastern.
The victory came just hours after the two teams got into a heated verbal exchange following a mix-up in the practice schedule of the Weavers and the Hong Kong Eastern.
In the first game, Taipei Fubon Braves whipped Macau Hou Chun, 103-89.
The scores
Abra 79 - Johnson 14, Ibrahim 14, Fenner 13, Eric 10, D. Ildefonso 9, Ayonayon 8, Diouf 4, Molina 2, Delos Reyes 0.
Hong Kong Eastern 72 - Vining 26, Leung 20, Cao 13, Mockevicious 7, Wong 3, Pan 2, Au 1.
Quarters: 20-17; 38-31: 56-40: 79-72.
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