Urbiztondo breaks record as Slingers draw first blood in ABL Finals
Photo by Glenn Michael Tan/ABL
Josh Urbiztondo showed the light for the Singapore Slingers and torched the Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions en route to a 92-76 blowout in Game 1 of the 2017 ASEAN Basketball League Finals Saturday night at Southorn Stadium.
The former PBA veteran sharp-shooter finished with 23 points, doing most of the damage in the third quarter where Singapore broke away from the hosts.
Urbiztondo also broke an ABL record in the process as his seven triples became the most in league history in a championship game.
Westports Malaysia Dragons sniper Loh Shee Fai held the previous record of five during the 2015 Finals
But he wasn’t the lone Slinger to etch his name in the record books.
Justin Howard carried Singapore with a monstrous 45-point, 28-rebound statline, both of which were league-highs, to erase the previous record of 39 set by Philippine Patriot Gabe Freeman back in 2010.
“Justin had a great game for us,” said coach Neo Beng Siang. “He’s a big target inside and his teammates did a good job of finding him and spacing the floor but it was our defense that won the game for us. Holding down Hong Kong to just 76 points is something we’re proud of.”
With the win, Singapore stole home court advantage in this best-of-five series, with Game 2 set on Tuesday, still at the Southorn Stadium.
Marcus Elliott topped Hong Kong with 20 points, seven assists, and five rebounds, while Thailand import Tyler Lamb had 18 markers.
The Scores:
SINGAPORE 92 – Howard 45, Urbiztondo 23, Alexander 14, Folkoff 4, Wong 4, Goh 2, Kwek 0, Oh 0, Ng 0, Liew 0.
HONG KONG 76 – Elliott 20, Lamb 19, Boone 11, Chan 9, Fong 6, Lee 6, Guinchard 5, Wu 0.
Quarters: 24-21, 46-41, 68-58, 92-76.
