Zamar hits big shot as Mono ties ABL Finals

Photo from ASEAN Basketball League

BANGKOK – Mono Vampire’s Filipino import Paul Zamar hit the biggest shot of the game as the Thai club slipped past San Miguel Alab Pilipinas, 88-83, last Monday to force a winner-take-all Game 5 for the 2018 ASEAN Basketball League crown at Stadium 29 here.

Zamar, the former University of the East star, finished with 11 points, including the tough floater with 17 seconds remaining that helped Mono survive another gutsy stand by the Filipino club, which stayed in the thick of the fight even after committing 26 turnovers.

Game 5 is set at 8 p.m. at Sta. Rosa Multi Purpose Sports Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Mike Singletary and Sam Deguara each scattered 20 points, while Jason Brickman had 13 points and 10 assists for Mono, which bounced back from a 93-99 loss in Game 3.

Justin Brownlee had 18 points, but the import missed a corner triple after Zamar’s basket, allowing Mono to secure the win in front of a lively home crowd.

Hounded by foul trouble in the second half, Renaldo Balkman also tallied 18 points. Two nights after a 30-point performance in Game 3, Ray Parks had 21 points on 7-of-18 shooting from beyond the arc.

Alab came within 83-86 with 1:18 remaining after Brownlee hit two free throws off Deguara’s fourth foul, and after a turnover by Singletary, the Filipinos had a huge opportunity to pull even closer. But Parks missed a fadeaway shot, before Zamar hit the dagger on the other end.