Alab Pilipinas posts 3rd straight win, downs Singapore in OT

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Truly turning a new leaf in the new year, Tanduay Alab Pilipinas stretched its winning run to three games after holding off the Singapore Slingers in overtime, 89-80, Sunday in the Asean Basketball League at OCBC Arena in Singapore.

Renaldo Balkman paced the Philippine side with 26 points, eight rebounds, two assists, four assists and two blocks, while Justin Brownlee triggered the pullaway in the extra period and finished with 17 markers, seven boards, eight assists, two steals, and two rejections.

Bobby Ray Parks Jr. unloaded 11 points and none bigger than his three-point play with 1:10 remaining that put the nail in the coffin as Alab took the 87-78 advantage.

The Filipinos finally got their act together in OT and held Singaporeans scoreless for the better part of the period.

Robby Celiz drained the left corner three off a Parks dime to put Alab up, 78-75 with 50.2 seconds to go.

AJ Mandani forced extra time with a booming 3-pointer, 78-all, with 12.2 seconds left after Brownlee’s potential game-sealing floater rattled out.

Lawrence Domingo collected nine markers and seven rebounds, but almost cost Alab the victory after he fouled Hanbin Ng on a three-point attempt with 1:58 remaining in regulation that had Singapore tying the game at 75.

Chris Charles carried the load for the Slingers with a double-double of 22 points, 11 rebounds that went with four blocks, and three assists, while Ng stepped up big for his crew as he went 4-of-5 from three to nab 15 markers and two boards.

Mandani added 13 points as Singapore dropped to 3-5.

The scores:

ALAB PILIPINAS 89 — Balkman 26, Brownlee 17, Parks 11, Domingo 9, Raymundo 8, Urbiztondo 8, Celiz 3, Hontiveros 3, Maierhofer 2, Sumalinog 2, Alabanza 0.

SINGAPORE SLINGERS 80 — Charles 22, Ng 15, Mandani 13, Alexander 10, Low 10, Goh 9, Liew 1, Folkoff 0, Kwek 0, Oh 0.

Quarters: 21-17, 36-36, 63-60, 78-78, 89-80.