Photo from Asean Basketball League Facebook page
Former UAAP Most Valuable Player Ray Parks Jr. exploded for 30 points as Alab Pilipinas repulsed Kaohsiung Truth, 91-82, Sunday night for its first victory in the Asean Basketball League (ABL) before a sellout crowd at Baliwag Star Arena in Bulacan.
Alab also unveiled a gem of a recruit in former US NCAA Division 2 player Lawrence Domingo, their designated Heritage import, who finished with 21 points to help the Filipinos put away the Taiwanese dribblers.
With Parks, who saw action in the NBA D-League last season, delivering an all around performance that included seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, Alab fought back from an early 0-8 deficit to register its first win in two outings.
The Truth arrived in the country on the heels of back-to-back lopsided defeats to the Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions.
But they showed plenty of fight in the first three quarters following the introduction of former University of the Philippines standout Mikee Reyes, who was signed to a one-game deal.
Hampered by cramps in the second half, Reyes had 14 points, but committed six turnovers in 29 minutes on the floor.
The Truth is reportedly eyeing former Far Eastern U standouts Achie Iñigo and Reymar Jose to beef up the team for another duel with Alab on Sunday at Olivarez College Gym in Parañaque.
The victory pushed Alab to third spot with a 1-1 record, behind the Singapore Slingers
(3-0) and Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions (2-0).
The Slingers stayed unbeaten after blowing out the Saigon Heat, 90-65, in Ho Chi Minh City last Saturday.