No rest for weary

PBA guest team Eastern has a loaded schedule in the Commissioner’s Cup, EASL and the Hong Kong D1 league with coach Mensur Bajramovic walking a tightrope in making sure his team is ready to play whichever game is on the calendar.

This month has been a grind for Eastern. Two days after beating Converge in the PBA, Eastern was back in Hong Kong to beat Tycoon, 72-65 last Dec. 1. Then, Eastern returned to Manila to face Rain or Shine three days later but point guard Glen Yang was left behind to sort out his application for a Hong Kong passport. Yang was held for an hour by Manila immigration officials before flying back to Hong Kong because the Canadian passport he used to enter the Philippines had been put on hold while applying for his Hong Kong travel document.

With his Hong Kong passport in process, Yang couldn’t return to Manila and missed Eastern’s game against Rain or Shine. PBA commissioner Willie Marcial wrote a letter to Hong Kong immigration certifying Yang as a player with Eastern in the Commissioner’s Cup and explained the nature of the competition. Marcial requested for Hong Kong to expedite the processing of Yang’s passport so that he’d be able to rejoin his team without missing any more games. Yang was issued his Hong Kong passport in time to play in Eastern’s next game against TNT. He’s now eligible to suit up for the Hong Kong national squad.

Last Sunday, Eastern defeated Barangay Ginebra, 93-90. That same day, Eastern deployed a youth brigade to play in D1. Eastern’s PBA team then flew to Hong Kong and beat San Miguel Beer, 71-62, in EASL at the Southorn Stadium last Wednesday. Eastern returned to Manila the next night then played NorthPort the following day. Tonight, Eastern takes on San Miguel in its fourth outing in eight days.

After tonight, Eastern’s next PBA game is against Meralco on Jan. 5. Then, it flies back to Hong Kong to engage Suwon KT Sonicboom at home on Jan. 7 and the next day, battles Pegasus K in D1 action, also in Hong Kong. Eastern then tackles Friends in D1 on Jan. 12, San Miguel in EASL at the PhilSports Arena on Jan. 15 and takes on Terrafirma on Jan. 17.

The schedule is dizzying but Bajramovic isn’t losing focus. Eastern is No. 1 in D1 with a 7-0 record, No. 2 in the PBA at 5-2 and No. 4 in its EASL bracket at 1-2. In Eastern’s five PBA wins, opponents were held to an average of 88.4 points but in two losses, it gave up an average of 109.5. Eastern isn’t an offensive machine like Bay Area and relies mainly on Chris McLaughlin (or Cameron Clark when he’s reactivated in the PBA), Yang, Hayden Blankley, Kobey Lam and Ray Cao for firepower. What makes Eastern tough is its defense. Bajramovic is a stickler for discipline, teamwork and efficiency without which Eastern wouldn’t be able to survive its grueling schedule.

Eastern’s trilogy with San Miguel is an unfolding drama. San Miguel has brought in Jabari Narcis to replace Quincy Miller and he’ll likely combine with Torren Jones for EASL. Narcis, 27, is a 6-9 center from Trinidad and Tobago. He has played in Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Germany, Japan, Dominican Republic and Ivory Coast. Narcis never averaged in double figures in two D1 years and in the NBA G-League in 2022, normed 2.5 points and 3.0 rebounds for the Wisconsin Herd. His single-game career highs include 25 points and 13 rebounds.