Following the impressive run of the now-defunct Bay Area Dragons in the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner's Cup, the league introduced a fresh guest team with the entry of Hong Kong Eastern.
A team that has been a staple in ASEAN basketball for years, Eastern decided to take their talents to the PBA -- hoping to have enough reps as they compete in their local league and the East Asia Super League (EASL). The question of whether they can replicate Bay Area's success in the PBA has made them intriguing to watch.
They have shown promise through their first three games with a win-loss record of 2-1. They have wins over Phoenix and a strong, young Converge team. While Eastern succumbed in their most recent match versus Rain or Shine.
As the tournament progresses, the true test for Eastern lies in how they match up against established PBA teams. Let's take a look at what can make them a formidable contender and what areas they need to improve to challenge the league's top squads.
Eastern's proficient outside shooting
One of the main reasons why Eastern holds the second best offensive rating in the PBA so far is their ability to score in the perimeter. Although they were shackled by Rain or Shine, the shooting they showed in their first two games were commendable The team is not hunting those shots per se, as Eastern only has the sixth most attempted shots from range, but they have the best percentage in the early stretch of the conference at 46.3% in their two wins.
Leading the charge former Bay Area Dragon Hayden Blankley. The 24-year old player averaged 19.5 points on a scintillating 78.5 TS% during his first conference in the PBA. While his numbers dipped against Rain or Shine, Blankley has already proven to be a reliable scoring option who can space the floor effectively. His ability to knock down shots under pressure will be crucial as Eastern navigates tougher competition.
Cameron Clark's brilliance
The thing that Eastern import Cameron Clark can bank on is his vast experience in playing with the style here in the PBA -- having suited up for multiple teams in the previous seasons. With a young team that needs a veteran presence, he has been the perfect go-to-guy for this group.
Numbers definitely confirm that Clark has started well in the first week of PBA action with averages of 32 points, 12 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 3.5 stocks (blocks + steals) on 59.6 TS%. His performance earned him recognition as the Reinforcement of the Week to start the conference.
Clark's success in the PBA comes from his unique ability to play bigger than his size, allowing him to hold his ground against opposing bigs on defense, and dominating inside the paint on offense. Add to that his polished mid-range game -- knocking down 58.7% of his attempts in Eastern's two wins -- and it's clear he has the tools to thrive in this league.
Defense can still be better
The difference between Eastern and Bay Area is the average height of their roster. Eastern's local guards, wings and bigs are about the same size as Filipino players. This eliminates the advantage of being a rim deterring team and they do not have the length to bother smaller players. Before even digging into the nitty gritty details, a simple counting stat of allowing 101 points per game in three games needs to be addressed.
According to data from InStat, Hong Kong Eastern's defense in their first two games showed notable weaknesses in key areas. Their interior defense has been a concern, as they are one of three teams allowing at least a point per possession on rolls from the pick-and-roll. Eastern's aggressive defensive coverages have also led to issues with rotations, often resulting in late closeouts on catch-and-shoot opportunities.This has made them the league's worst team in defending such plays, surrendering 1.6 points per possession (PPP). Additionally, their screen navigation needs improvement, as they allow the fourth-highest mark on screen-offs at 1.15 PPP.
Moving forward, Eastern has to develop its versatility on defensive coverages to match-up with different styles of play with PBA teams.