Alab posts No. 2 behind another Balkman show

Renaldo Balkman dished out another big game as San Miguel Alab Pilipinas hacked out a gutsy overtime win on the road, outlasting Indonesian squad CLS Knights, 88-80, in the Asean Basketball League (ABL) on Sunday night at Gor Basket Kertajaya in Surabaya, Indonesia.

After torching the Knights for 33 points in their season opener, the Puerto Rican import fired 36 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while compatriot PJ Ramos finished with 25 points as Alab scored a second victory in as many starts.

Alab came up with a strong finish in the overtime session with Balkman pouring in eight points and Ray Parks hitting a triple for a 79-83 cushion with 76 seconds remaining.

“It was a tough game, but I’m glad the guys found a way to the get the win,” said Alab coach Jimmy Alapag, whose squad next faces Taiwanese team Formosa Dreamers on Friday in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

“They (Dreamers) have been playing very well so it’s a good test for us early in the season.”

Knights guard Wong Wei Long tied the game at 75 with a layup with 36 seconds remaining in regulation, before Ramos, bothered by the defense of CLS counterpart Stephen Hurt, missed a potential game-winner inside the paint.

Just like its convincing win in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, the Filipinos got off to a blistering start over the Indonesians.

But with import Montay Brandon and Maxie Esho finding their range in the second half, the Knights erased an 18-point deficit and even led by seven in the third period.

Parks, picked second by Blackwater in the PBA Draft in Manila just before the game, contributed 10 points.