ALAB PILIPINAS. Photo from Asean Basketball League Facebook/Kuk Thew
BALIUAG – Alab Pilipinas saw its fire extinguished Friday as the Singapore Slingers swept their 2017 ASEAN Basketball League semifinals series with an 82-64 Game 2 victory at Baliwag Star Arena here.
Xavier Alexander powered Singapore with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, while Josh Urbiztondo got 20 markers on a 4-of-8 shooting from three, on top of six dimes and five boards.
Justin Howard also had a huge double-double of 18 points, 16 rebounds that went with four assists in the Slingers win.
Singapore booked a return trip to the ABL Finals, awaiting the winner of the Hong Kong-Saigon semifinals series.
Kiefer Ravena led Alab’s spirited run in the third quarter, where they clawed their way back from 20-points down, 43-23, and got to as close as six, 57-51, with 1:06 remaining in the frame.
That, however, proved to be the Filipinos’ last gasp as Wong Wei Long triggered the Slingers’ 14-4 finishing blow that brough the lead back to 19, 74-55, and took the air out of the home team.
Not helping Alab was the absence of Ray Parks, who was nursin sprained ankle and an injured hip.
Lawrence Domingo topped the Philippines with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Ravena got 16 markers and four boards in the defeat.
The Scores:
SINGAPORE SLINGERS 82 – Alexander 21, Urbiztondo 20, Howard 18, Kwek 10, Wong 8, Oh 3, Folkoff 2, Goh 0.
ALAB PILIPINAS 64 – Domingo 18, Ravena 16, Hughes 10, Carter 7, Celiz 6, Knuttel 4, Hubalde 3, Cawaling 0, Mendoza 0, Acuna 0.
Quarters: 24-14, 47-29, 60-51, 82-64.