FILE – Alab Pilipinas guard Ray Parks goes for a layup against the Formosa Dreamers. Photo from ABL
San Miguel Alab Pilipinas’ untimely woes continued after falling to the Saigon Heat, 80-81, in the 2019 Asean Basketball League at CIS Arena in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Trevon Hughes lifted the Heat with 24 points, including the game-winning free throw with five seconds left, while Kyle Barone notched a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds.
Saigon dealt Alab its fourth straight loss and eighth overall heading into the quarterfinal round.
Once owning the league’s best record for a long stretch in the tournament, Alab settled for the No. 2 behind the Formosa Dreamers and will face Hong Kong Eastern in a best-of-three series in the quarters.
Renaldo Balkman returned from a concussion to lead the Philippine side with 25 points and eight rebounds while Ray Parks added 16 points.
Alab missed the services of its other Puerto Rican reinforcement in PJ Ramos.