San Miguel-Alab PH confident of snapping HK spell

Armed with formidable imports and a sharper local crew, San Miguel-Alab Pilipinas seeks to end its losing streak to Hong Kong’s Eastern at the start of the best-of-three semifinals of the 2018 Asean Basketball League (ABL) on Wednesday at Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong.

The Filipino club lost its last two games to the ABL defending champions this season, but coach Jimmy Alapag is upbeat the streak will end in their most critical game yet of the season.

With top PBA pick Christian Standhardinger and reigning best import Marcus Elliott spearheading the charge, Eastern swept its season series with Alab.

Both games happened in the early part of the season when Alapag did not have world imports Justin Brownlee and Renaldo Balkman at Alapag’s disposal.

Balkman and Brownlee have taken turns in leading Alab to their best stretch since joining the league in 2016, helping the Filipinos reach the postseason as the No. 3 seed, before standing at the forefront of the two-game sweep of the Saigon Heat of Vietnam in the quarterfinals, 110-100 and 96-85.

“We’re much, much different team compared to we were in the first half of the season,” said Alapag.

“At the same time, they’re still the defending champs and they have homecourt advantage, so it’s going to be important for us to shift our focus as we head home and go to Hong Kong on Wednesday.”

Ray Parks and other locals like Pao Javelona, Josh Urbiztondo and Pamboy Raymundo have been stepping up for Alab in recent games, and Alapag acknowledged he would need a Herculean effort from his wards to overcome the Hong Kong team.

“We’re gonna have our hands full, but I told the guys, let’s give ourselves an opportunity (to make the finals),” said Alapag, who is in his first season as head coach. —CEDELF P. TUPAS