Alab, Cuan look to bounce back vs Saigon Heat

Photo from ASEAN Basketball League Facebook/Onvisa Thewphaingarm

More than anyone else, Alab Pilipinas coach Mac Cuan was hard on himself as he watched his squad get humbled by the Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions last Sunday.

“I’ll take the blame on this one and prepare better the next game,” said Cuan, after Alab’s 80-93 away defeat in the Asean Basketball League.

For a coach getting his first big coaching break, Cuan is finding out the hard way how tough getting all his players locked in for the task at hand.

But the former De La Salle guard gets another crack to put Alab Pilipinas back on track as the Filipinos host the Saigon Heat on Friday night in Paranaque City.

“I still have confidence in this team,” said Cuan, whose team beat Kaohsiung Truth, 93-87, the last time it played a home game in Olivarez Gym. “The next time we play we will be ready.”

Alab absorbed its worst defeat of the season in Hong Kong after getting overwhelmed by the Long Lions, who shot the lights out from beyond the arc in the middle quarters.

Only Ray Parks Jr. found his stride on offense the last time out with 23 points for Alab, which is hoping to squeeze better outings from World imports James Hughes and Sampson Carter.

The 6-foot-9 Carter has yet to score in twin digits after debuting with 23 points in the 86-77 win over the Kaohsiung Truth last Jan. 8.

But Alab can restore order to its campaign with a win over the Vietnamese club, which is coming off a 67-82 defeat to the Westsports Malaysia Dragons last Friday. It will be the first of four meetings between Alab and Heat this season.