Round 19: #1 SM Beermen is defeated by Hong Kong ELL

Samuel Deguara

There was no lack of interesting games this round. The round ended with defeat of the leader. Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Filipino SM Beermen (15-3) on the court of second ranked Hong Kong Hong Kong ELL on Wednesday night. Visitors were defeated by Hong Kong ELL 88-83. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of SM Beermen. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Hong Kong ELL made 25-of-33 free shots (75.8 percent) during the game. Hong Kong ELL outrebounded SM Beermen 56-35 including a 23-12 advantage in offensive rebounds. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Hong Kong ELL made 10 blocks. 26 personal fouls committed by SM Beermen helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for Maltese center Samuel Deguara (223-91) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 31 rebounds and 8 blocks. American center Michael Holyfield (211-92, college: Sam Houston St.) helped adding 19 points and 20 rebounds. At the losing side American-Filipino guard Bobby-Ray Parks (193-93) responded with 29 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Hong Kong ELL maintains second place with 12-9 record despite having the same number of points like the leader SM Beermen. SM Beermen at the other side still keeps top position with three games lost. Hong Kong ELL are looking forward to face Formosa D. (#3) in Changhua City in the next round, which may be the game of the day. SM Beermen will play on the road against Mono Vampire in Bangkok and is hoping to win this game.
Important game to mention about took place in Changhua City. Fifth ranked Vietnamese Saigon Heat (11-8) saved a 2-point victory on the road edging 4th placed Taiwanese Formosa D. (11-6) 74-72 on Saturday evening. It was an exceptional evening for American-Puerto Rican point guard TreVon Hughes (185-87, college: Wisconsin) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Murphy Burnatowski accounted for 21 points and 5 steals. American forward Tevin Glass (206-94, college: E.Tenn.St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds for Formosa D. in the defeat. Saigon Heat moved-up to fourth place. Formosa D. at the other side dropped to the third position with six games lost. Saigon Heat will play against CLS Knights (#6) in Surabaya in the next round. Formosa D. will play against Zhuhai and hopes to get back on the winning track.
ASEAN League top team - Filipino SM Beermen (15-3) had no problems winning another game on Friday. This time they crushed tenth ranked Chinese Zhuhai (2-17) 105-79. Peter Ramos fired a triple-double by scoring 15 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists for the winners. Michael Bell produced a double-double by scoring 22 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. SM Beermen maintains first place with 15-3 record. Zhuhai lost third consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 17 games lost. SM Beermen will meet Mono Vampire (#9) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Zhuhai will play against Formosa D. in Changhua City and hope to secure a win.
ASEAN League top team - Filipino SM Beermen (15-3) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed tenth ranked Chinese Zhuhai (2-17) in Manila 108-81. Worth to mention a great performance of Renaldo Balkman who helped to win the game recording 20 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. SM Beermen's coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. SM Beermen maintains first place with 15-3 record. Zhuhai lost third consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 17 games lost. SM Beermen's next round opponent will be Mono Vampire (#9) in Bangkok and are hoping to win another game. Zhuhai will play on the road against Formosa D. in Changhua City and hope to win that game.
The game in Kuala Lumpur was also quite interesting. 6th ranked Indonesian CLS Knights (9-11) played at the court of eighth ranked Malaysian Westports MD (6-10). Westports MD managed to secure a 5-point victory 89-84 on Thursday. It was a great evening for Chris Eversley who led his team to a victory scoring 24 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Westports MD maintains eighth place with 6-10 record. CLS Knights lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with 11 games lost. Westports MD will face higher ranked Singapore Slingers (#5) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory.

In the last two games of round 19 Mono Vampire lost to CLS Knights on the opponent's court 102-109. Formosa D. managed to outperform Westports MD in a home game 82-76.