ABL: Alab Pilipinas blow chance, bow to Dragons

ALAB PILIPINAS. Photo from Asean Basketball League Facebook/Kuk Thew

Just when it seemed like Alab Pilipinas was ready to mount a challenge for top spot in the 2017 Asean Basketball League, the Filipino club was once again left undone by a sputtering performance on the road. 

Playing its second game in three days, Alab saw its two-game winning run snapped as it yielded a 77-79 decision to the Westsports Malaysia Dragons Sunday at MABA Stadium. 

With the loss, Alab missed out on the opportunity to close in on the Singapore Slingers at second spot as the Filipinos dropped to 8-5. Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions remain on top with a 9-2 record with the Slingers in second with a 10-4 slate.

Dragons import Kiwi Gardner made two free throws off a foul on Jeric Fortuna with two seconds remaining as the Malaysian club survived a late onslaught by the Filipinos, who trailed by as many as 12 points heading into the final period. 

Alab was looking for a third straight against the Malaysians, whom they had beaten, 87-79, last Friday night at Star Arena in Baliwag, Bulacan. 

But while Robbie Celiz and import Sampson Carter once again came up with solid efforts on offense, Alab’s inability to execute down the stretch did the Filipinos in against a Malaysian team that only won two out of its first 12 games of the season. 

Celiz, who scored 14 points against the Dragons last Friday, had his best offensive game yet with 23 points, but he lost the ball to Skylar Spencer with six seconds remaining, setting up Gardner for the marginal points. Carter tallied 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

Alab went scoreless in the final 2:23 of the game, after a dunk by Ray Parks, who turned 24 last Sunday, boosted the Filipinos to a 77-73 lead. 

The scores:

WESTPORTS MALAYSIA DRAGONS 79 – Spencer 22, Gardner 21, Munzon 20, Yeo 8, Ting 4, Loh 2, Kuek 2, Ma 0, Teo 0, Wong 0

ALAB PILIPINAS 77 – Celiz 23, Carter 21, Fortuna 12, Cawaling 9, Parks Jr. 8, Knuttel 2, Gavieres 2, Domingo 0, Mendoza 0, Thiele 0, Hubalde 0

Quarters: 18-13, 40-32, 64-52, 79-77