Asean Basketball League: Hong Kong Eastern shine on opening night in Singapore to beat Cooly Bangkok Tigers
- Eastern post a convincing win in their first of four games in the Lion City
- New signings O’Darien Bassett and Chris McLaughlin lead the scoring, while young local players also get game time
A 94-63 victory in which Eastern led throughout was powered by new signings O’Darien Bassett and Chris McLaughlin, who contributed 43 points between them at the OCBC Arena.
Eastern – ABL champions in 2017 at their first attempt – started with both of their team captains, Chan Siu-wing and Adam Xu, alongside three import players in Bassett, McLaughlin and Colombian international Tonny Trocha-Morelos.
The returning Bassett, who had played in the ABL for Eastern in 2019, knocked down an early three to set the tone for the Hong Kong team. With four of the five starters putting their names on the scoresheet early on, Eastern built a healthy 12-3 lead to force a timeout from the Tigers.
Their lead stretched to 19 by the end of the opening quarter, thanks largely to McLaughlin, with a game-high 11 points, and Bassett, who chipped in nine.
