MACAO—After slamming the door on the defending champion, San Miguel Beer tries to get the top title contender out of the way next.
The Beermen battle title favorite Liaoning Flying Leopards in one of the semifinal pairings of the East Asia League Terrific 12 on Saturday, eyeing a win over a team that features former National Basketball Association players Lance Stephenson and Salah Mejri for a berth in the winner-take-all final.
The champion teams of the Philippine Basketball Association and Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) clash in the 7 p.m. main game at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion.
The first semifinals game between Group A top-notcher Seoul SK Knights and Group C leader Zhejiang Guangsha Lions is set at 5 p.m.
Two CBA teams and one each from the PBA and Korea Basketball League comprised this year’s Final Four cast.
The Beermen made the semifinals after topping Group B unbeaten in two games by ousting last year’s champion Ryukyu Golden Kings, 101-92, on Thursday behind the 42-point explosion of import Dezmine Wells.
The Flying Leopards also posted a 2-0 record to emerge as top qualifier in Group D that set up their showdown with the Beermen.