Depleted Alab Pilipinas takes 1st home loss, yields top spot to Formosa

Photo from ABL

San Miguel Alab Pilipinas on Sunday suffered its first home loss at the worst possible time.

Alab yielded the top spot after losing to the surging Formosa Dreamers, 74-88, in the 2019 Asean Basketball League at Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.

Sorely missing the services of three of its injured key players in Renaldo Balkman, Lawrence Domingo and Brandon Rosser, Alab dropped its third game in a row to slip to second place with an 18-7 record.

Formosa went on a 21-4 surge to take total control of the game and clinch its eighth consecutive victory.

Malcolm Miller, Will Artino and Tevin Glass combined for 73 points to power the Dreamers, who rose to first place with a half-game lead over Alab in the standings at 18-6.

Ray Parks led the Philippine side with 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists on a night where he also moved to ninth place in the ABL all-time scoring list.

Miller finished with a game-high 27 points that went with eight rebounds and eight assists before he got ejected after getting involved in an altercation with Alab’s Josh Urbiztondo and Caelan Tiongson with under three minutes left.

Artino had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds with three blocks to boot.