ABL: Alab Pilipinas stays unbeaten at home, rips Hong Kong

Photo from ABL

Alab Pilipinas continued its perfect run at home after an 88-76 drubbing of Hong Kong Eastern in the 2019 Asean Basketball League Sunday night at Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna.

Puerto Rican reinforcements Renaldo Balkman and PJ Ramos were dominant anew while the locals provided ample support for Alab, which improved its home record to 9-0.

Balkman collected 20 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists while the 7-foot-3 Ramos scattered 18 points, 19 rebounds and six assists against Hong Kong’s 7-foot-5 giant Sam Deguara.

Guard Josh Urbiztondo also gave the Philippine side a lift with 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting from downtown to offset the absence of Ray Parks.

Parks, the reigning two-time Local MVP, was out for the second straight game due to a groin injury.

Alab, which upped its league-best mark to 10-2, pulled away in the third quarter thanks to a 17-2 run behind Balkman.

Lawrence Domingo and Caelan Tiongson contributed 10 points apiece while playmaker Ethan Alvano added seven points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Marcus Elliot had a team-high 21 points for Hong Kong, which dropped to 9-8. Deguara, who was saddled with foul trouble, played little factor on offense with only seven points but did have 12 rebounds and five blocks.