JP Erram showed that he can also bring his fine play in the PBA overseas, as he starred in the Blackwater Elite’s 78-67 victory over Seoul Samsung Thunders in their Asia League Summer Super 8 debut, Tuesday in Macau, China.
The 6-foot-7 center produced game-high outputs of 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the floor, and 16 rebounds. Erram also had three blocks, two assists, and two steals in 30 minutes and 45 seconds.
Erram was also instrumental in the Elite’s finishing kick. His lay-up off a give-and-go ignited Blackwater’s 10-0 scoring blitz to turn their slim four-point lead to an insurmountable 14-point margin, 76-62, with just 1:42 left in the game.
PBA rookie Raymar Jose also had a commendable outing with 14 points and six rebounds. Guard Paul Zamar – he himself a veteran in overseas tournaments – chipped in 11 markers on 4-of-7 field goal shooting.
Mac Belo returned to the Elite after sitting out the tail-end of the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup due to an injury. The 6-foot-4 sophomore played for over 16 minutes and finished with nine points, six rebounds, and a block.
Kim Hyun Soo and Kim Dong Uk had 16 points apiece to lead Seoul, who came back from an early 14-point deficit and even took a 46-45 lead in the third, only to misfire come the final frame as they only made eight points in the canto.
Blackwater’s win made it a perfect opener for the Philippine contingents in the tournament, as the NLEX Road Warriors won over the Formosa Dreamers, 94-68, earlier, also at the Macao East Asian Games Dome.
The Elite will next face the Guangzhou Long Lions of China tomorrow, Wednesday, July 18 at 7:00 PM.
The Scores:
Blackwater Elite (78) – Erram 20, Jose 14, Zamar 11, Belo 9, Maliksi 8, DiGregorio 7, Banal 3, Pinto 2, Palma 2, Javier 2, Sumang 0.
Seoul Samsung Thunders (67) – Kim H.S. 16, Kim D.U. 16, Lee G.H. 12, Cha M.S. 7, Cheon G.B 6, Bae K.R. 5, Hong S.K. 3, Jang M.G. 2, Choi Y.H. 0.
Quarterscores: 21-16, 41-37, 63-59, 78-67.
