Alab Pilipinas cool off Saigon Heat, make ABL semis

Renaldo Balkman. Photo from ASEAN Basketball League

San Miguel Alab Pilipinas overcame a hostile crowd and cooled off the Saigon Heat, 96-85, on Saturday to advance to the 2018 ASEAN Basketball League semifinals at CIS Arena in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Renaldo Balkman led the cavalry as he collected 21 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists, while Lawrence Domingo stepped up with 18 markers, including the game-sealing three-point play, 94-81, with 1:03 left.

Justin Brownlee added 18 points, 13 rebounds, three dimes, and two steals, Paolo Javelona went 3-of-5 from downtown to wind up with 11 markers, six boards, and four assists, and Bobby Ray Parks Jr. got 10 points, seven rebounds, and three dimes.

Alab pulled away in the third quarter, using a 27-point explosion to erect the 73-59 lead. The Filipinos led by 15 numerous times in the fourth before fending off repeated rallies from the home team.

The Philippine squad swept Vietnam in two games and barged into the Final Four for the second straight season to face No. 2 Hong Kong.

Game 1 is on Wednesday at Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong.

Akeem Scott poured in 22 points that went with six rebounds, four assists, and four steals for Saigon, but struggled to get ample help from Maxie Esho, who was silenced in the second half, where he only had three of his 20 markers.

Moses Morgan chimed in 17 points, seven boards, and five assists in the losing effort, while David Arnold had 14.

The scores:

SAN MIGUEL ALAB PILIPINAS 96 — Balkman 21, Domingo 21, Brownlee 18, Javelona 11, Parks 10, Raymundo 6, Urbiztondo 6, Hontiveros 3, Celiz 0, Sumalinog 0.

SAIGON HEAT 85 — Scott 22, Esho 20, Morgan 17, Arnold 14, S. Nguyen 6, Williams 6, H. Nguyen 0, To QT 0.

Quarters: 28-27, 46-42, 73-59, 96-85.