GUEST team Eastern stretched its winning ways, while San Miguel lost back-to-back games in three days in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Parading a new import in Chris McLaughlin, the Hong Kong-based team overcame a 10-point deficit at the break to roll past Blackwater, 84-75, as it continues to quietly climb in the standings with its third-running 4-1 record.
READ: Eastern clamps down on Blackwater, wins second in a row
In contrast, the losses are creating loud noises for the Beermen who fell to Rain or Shine, 107-93, The defeat came 72 hours after being ambushed by NLEX, 104-99, in a game where they held lead of as many as 19 points.
READ: Nocum, fellow Rain or Shine young guns run SMB to the ground
Here are some of the takeaways in the first regular double-header to be played at the FilOil Ecooil Centre after a long while.
1. SMB STRUGGLING EARLY
The Beermen suffered two knockout losses early in a campaign that was high on expectations following the acquisition of new bloods Juami Tiongson and Andreas Cahilig.
The defending champion obviously let the Road Warriors get off the hook in their Sunday night game in which Robert Bolick caught fire for fiery 20-point fourth quarter show, while they appeared like a lost team against a young Elasto Painters side that ran them to the ground in the final period.
Reading by its body language as the team emerged out of the dugout after the Rain or Shine loss suggests that things are not going right for the mighty franchise. The Beermen actually could have been 0-3 right now had they not rallied past Phoenix, 107-104, on a Marcio Lassiter game-winning three.
All eyes are now on incoming import Torren Jones as a replacement for Quincy Miller on how he’ll be able to turn things around for a super team that hasn't had a slow start in such a long time.
2. MILLER NOT THE SAME PLAYER HE ONCE WAS
The import is now a shade of the old explosive player who was a joy to watch when he first played in the league donning the Converge jersey two seasons ago. The former NBA player lost his touch, his aggressiveness, and his energy that helped the FiberXers reach the playoffs under former coach Aldin Ayo in the 2022 edition of the Commissioner’s Cup.
The decline appeared to have its roots when Miller was benched by Ayo after missing practice on the heels of a night of partying for his 30th birthday. He had a forgettable stint with TNT in last year’s Commissioner’s Cup after getting his release papers from the FiberXers.
And what was supposed to be his PBA redemption tour upon latching onto a job at San Miguel to reinforce the team in the EASL and briefly, in the midseason tournament, didn’t turn out to be what the Beermen and the fans expected out of this once promising talent.
3. JHONARD CLARITO TOWERED FOR RAIN OR SHINE IN SMB WIN
Last season’s Most Improved Player had a double-double in the Elasto Painters’ 14-point win over the Beermen with 10 points and a team-best 11 rebounds. The unheralded wing was the only Rain or Shine player to finish in double-figures in rebounding, beating his bigger teammates Beau Belga (3 rebounds), Keith Datu (2), rookie Caelan Tiongson (3), and even import Deon Thompson (4) in crashing the boards.
4. CAM CLARK OR MCLAUGHLIN FOR EASTERN IMPORT?
Soon enough the guest team from Hong Kong has to choose just one between Clark or McLaughlin to reinforce the ball club in its first ever stint in Asia’s oldest professional league.
A hip injury grounded Clark – a PBA veteran – to pave the way for the entry of the 6-foot-10 McLaughlin, who had a fairly decent debut of 32 points and 23 rebounds in the win against the Bossing.
Clark has been placed on the injured/reserved list in order for him to be eligible to return. But coach Mensur Bairamovic said there is no timeline on the comeback of the 6-foot-6 Clark, meaning McLaughlin will continue to hold the fort until his 33-year-old partner is well enough to play again.
Eastern, of course, will have to play its cards right. Clark can still be reactivated, but once the team replaces him for McLaughlin, the latter can no longer be activated again should Clark suffer another injury, as per PBA rules.
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