Cameron Clark leads Hong Kong Eastern past debuting TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. –PBA IMAGES
Hong Kong held TNT to just 16 points in the third quarter and then went for a strong finishing kick on Friday night for a 105-84 victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Import Cameron Clark showed the way for Eastern, putting up 36 points and 14 rebounds at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila, as the visitors got back on track with a 3-1 win-loss record following a reality check at the hands of Rain or Shine at the same venue.
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“Last game, we actually didn’t play good. It wasn’t our style, how we played. We were mad. So we analyzed what what happened. And today we actually did against a very good team, and against a style that is somehow similar. It was a test for us and we did it,” head coach Mensur Bajramović said shortly after the victory.
READ: TNT back to ’10 times’ harsher reality, battles Hong Kong Eastern
Hayden Blankley, who played goat in the last game, had 24 points and 10 rebounds as the guest team bucked a long travel time after figuring in Christmas rush traffic.
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Glen Yang returned to the lineup and finished with 19 points, while Ramon Cao had 17 more in the effort that denied traditional powerhouse Tropang Giga a rousing debut in the second conference of the season.
Resident import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson paced TNT with 33 points, while Kim Aurin had 12 points as the only local to finish with a twin-digit score.
Hong Kong faces Blackwater next Tuesday next week, while TNT will shoot for its first win anew against NorthPort on Sunday.
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
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Quarterscores: 21-22, 47-47, 73-63, 105-84