EXIT with grace.
That’s all San Miguel could do in its remaining EASL campaign starting with a rematch with Hong Kong Eastern Wednesday night at the Philsports Arena.
The Beermen are officially out of the running for a Final Four berth following their 71-62 loss to reigning B. League champion Hiroshima Dragonflies last week in Japan.
But coach Leo Austria doesn’t want a winless stint for the franchise in Season 2 of the Home and Away format, where SMB currently stands at the bottom of Group A with an 0-4 record.
“We’ll still go for the win kahit eliminated na kami,” he said.
Besides, San Miguel also has an ax to grind with Eastern, which dealt the reigning Commissioner’s Cup champion back-to-back losses in the EASL and PBA, respectively.
The team of Bosnian coach Mensur Bajramovic defeated the Beermen in their first meeting in the regional league, 71-62, in Hong Kong last Dec. 18.
Four days later, the PBA franchise went down for the second straight time, 99-91, in overtime in the Comm’s Cup, as guard Glenn Yang erupted for a conference-high 26 points.
Crucial contest for HK
While the game may no longer have bearing for SMB, Eastern is still in the running for the remaining Final Four spot in Group A, where it carries an even 2-2 record for third spot.
HK is behind second-running Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (3-1) and just a notch above Suwon KT Sonicboom (2-3).
Group A leader Hiroshima Dragonflies already secured the first Final Four berth in their bracket.
After Eastern, San Miguel will have Suwon KT Sonicboom for its final game on Feb. 12 in South Korea. The Sonicboom just recently signed UAAP champion and Season 87 Finals MVP JD Cagulangan of the University of the Philippines.
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