With its star groping for form, Alab Pilipinas drew strength from veteran Val Acuña to repulse the Saigon Heat, 74-70, Friday night and tighten its grip of third spot in the 2017 Asean Basketball League at CIS Gym in Ho Chi Minh City.
Playing his finest game of the season, Acuña pumped in 23 points—including seven triples—as Alab arrested a two-game slide and improved to 9-6, two and a half games behind second-running Singapore Slingers.
Acuña was a member of the San Miguel team that won the ABL crown in 2013.
Ray Parks’ shooting woes continued as Alab’s leading scorer finished with a season-low four points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field.
But Acuña more than picked up the slack, while Sampson Carter and Lawrence Domingo combined for 30 points for Alab, which is awaiting the entry of two-time UAAP MVP Kiefer Ravena into the lineup.
“I started him (Acuña) because I saw something in him the last time we played here,” said jubilant Alab coach Mac Cuan.
Alab, chasing homecourt advantage in the best-of-three semifinals, was playing against the Westsports Malaysia Dragons in Santa Rosa, Laguna, at press time. —CEDELF P. TUPAS