New-look Alab Pilipinas win 5th straight, rout Slingers

FILE PHOTO – Justin Brownlee of Alab Pilipinas shoots a jumper over Chris Charles of the Singapore Slingers in their game in the Asean Basketball League at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

New-look San Miguel Alab Pilipinas remained the same force of nature on the road, silencing Singapore Slingers, 82-69, for their fifth straight victory in the 2018 ASEAN Basketball League Sunday at OCBC Arena in Singapore.

Renaldo Balkman scored seven of Alab’s last 10 points to finish with a team-best 21 points on top of six rebounds, four assists, and three steals, while Josh Urbiztondo once again went ablaze from downtown, hitting five treys to wind up with 17 markers to go along with eight boards.

Justin Brownlee tallied a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Bobby Ray Parks collected 16 markers, four assists and two steals, and an emphatic block on Larry Liew in the final minute to punctuate the victory.

Alab used an 8-0 surge to open the third quarter to take control of the game, 45-38, and go on cruise control from that point.

The Philippine side rose to 8-4, a game behind third-seed Mono Vampire (9-4), while the Slingers fell to an even 7-7 slate.

Alab evened its season series against Singapore with each taking wins on the road.

Xavier Alexander led the Slingers with a game-high 32 points and seven rebounds, but failed to get ample support with Chris Charles posting 14 markers and seven boards in a foul-plagued outing.

Liew had seven points to lead the Singapore locals.

The scores:

SAN MIGUEL ALAB PILIPINAS 82 — Balkman 21, Urbiztondo 17, Brownlee 16, Parks 16, Maierhofer 6, Domingo 4, Raymundo 2, Alabanza 0, Hontiveros 0, Sumalinog 0.

SINGAPORE SLINGERS 69 — Alexander 32, Charles 14, Liew 7, Goh 6, Mandani 6, Low 4, Folkoff 0, Ng 0.

Quarters: 17-20, 37-38, 66-54, 82-69.