Hong Kong Eastern reinforcement Chris McLaughlin against Blackwater Bossing’s Bradwyn Guinto in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA — Hong Kong Eastern stormed back in the third quarter against Blackwater Bossing to tally its fourth win in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.

After trailing at halftime, the visitors charged back in the third canto en route to an 84-75 victory on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Chris McLaughlin, who made his PBA debut in place of Eastern import Cameron Clark, had a solid 32-point, 23-rebound game with three assists, a steal, and a block.

“First half, we didn’t have energy. We missed a lot of shots and we didn’t play as a team. In the second half, we took control of the game,” Eastern head coach Mensur Bajramovic said after the game, while also hailing his 6-foot-10 Canadian center.

“Chris knows everything, and he’s helping a lot, so we’ll keep working for our next games. We also missed Cameron Clark, but he pulled his muscles. It’s nothing serious, but he needs to stay out and take treatments.”

Glen Yang also made waves in HK’s victory, posting 14 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, while Kobe Lam finished with a 10-point, 11-rebound game with four assists.

Facing a 49-39 deficit following the first 24 minutes of gameplay — with George King putting up a monstrous 31-point outing in that span for the Bossing — Eastern leaned on their defensive capabilities by shackling Blackwater to nine points on 3-20 shooting, and King to only four markers.

McLaughlin, meanwhile, continued to impose his might over the smaller frontline of the Bossing by scoring seven of his total points in the same frame, and he, Adam Xu, and Yin Lung Cheung took turns to tie the game at 55 with only 5:03 left in the contest.

Steven Guinchard then went on to drain three from the foul line in their next possession for a 58-55 lead, while Lam, Yuet Yeung Pok, and Guinchard again led Hong Kong’s breakaway as the latter’s trey with only 50 seconds left in the third extended their lead to 10, 66-56.

Eastern then went on to continue with their onslaught in the last canto, with a McLaughlin and-one at the fourth quarter’s 4:05 mark extending their cushion to 16, 80-64, and that was all they needed to improve to 4-1 despite Rey Suerte bring the Bossing to within eight, 80-72, after a pair of foul shots with only 2:27 left in the game.

This is HK’s second straight victory, and Blackwater, on the other hand, remained winless in three outings in the import-laden conference.

King only scored 10 in the second half after his outburst in the first, settling with 41 markers, 12 boards, a steal, and an assist.

THE SCORES:

Eastern 84 – McLaughlin 32, Yang 14, Lam 10, Guinchard 8, Xu 7, Cheung 5, Cao 4, Blankley 2, Pok 2, Chan 0, Zhu 0.

Blackwater 75 – King 41, Barefield 9, Suerte 9, Chua 4, Kwekuteye 4, David 4, Ilagan 3, Ponferrada 1, Casio 0, Hill 0, Guinto 0, Escoto 0.

Quarterscores: 23-21, 39-49, 66-58, 84-75.