Smoldering Alab stretches winning run
Credit to Author: JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA| Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2018 16:34:15 +0000
San Miguel Alab Pilipinas pulled off a late run to remain unbeaten at the expense of Formosa Dreamers, 86-72, in Season 9 Asean Basketball League (ABL) on Friday at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
The defending champion Alab Pilipinas exploded with 21-3 rally in the endgame en route to extending its win-loss record to 3-0.
Defensive Player of the Year Renaldo Balkman posted a double-double of 19 points and 20 rebounds on top of five assists, a steal and a block in 38 minutes of action.
Balkman’s fellow Puerto Rican import PJ Ramos chipped in 16 points, seven boards and three dimes while back-to-back Local Most Valuable Player Ray Parks Jr. and Pao Javelona added 13 and 11 markers, respectively.
Alab head coach Jimmy Alapag got scoring and rebounding contributions from all the other five players he deployed namely Ethan Alvano, Caelan Tiongson, Brandon Rosser, Lawrence Domingo and Josh Urbiztondo.
It was a close battle between the top two teams in the ten-team league, with the Filipino ball club leading 65-60 on Ramos’ layup at the start of the fourth quarter.
Formosa initiated a 9-0 run capped by Malcolm Miller’s free throws to steal the lead, 69-65, with 6:26 left in the game.
Alvano and Tiongson went for strong drives to the hoop to tie the game at 69-all before Parks, Balkman and Ramos combined forces to spark Alab’s closing surge.
Alab shoots for its fourth straight win in another home game against the Singapore Slingers today (Sunday) at 8 p.m. at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
American import Miller had a game-best 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Dreamers, who absorbed their second consecutive defeat after a six-win start.
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