Balkman lifts Alab past HK

Renaldo Balkman Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Jimmy Alapag knows exactly what it would take for San Miguel Alab Pilipinas to achieve its goals.

“To be the best, you have to beat the best,” Alapag said after Alab eked out a 98-94 nail-biter over defending champion Hong Kong Eastern Wednesday night in the Asean Basketball League semifinals at Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong that put the Filipinos within another win of a dream title series stint.

“Anytime that you get a chance to win the championship, you’d love to play the best and you have to be able to win against them,” Alapag, a rookie head coach, added. “That’s exactly what we did (in Game 1), but make no mistake, it was a tough one.”

Renaldo Balkman displayed the skills that had made him a world-class player, shooting 46 points to establish a new ABL playoff scoring mark as he led Alab in the furious endgame and allowed the Filipinos to steal homecourt edge.

Alab can wrap this series up with a win on Sunday at Sta. Rosa Multipurpose Complex in Laguna as Alab tries to play for a championship in just its second full season in the regional league.

Surpasses record

Balkman, who surpassed the record of 45 points set by former Singapore import Justin Howard, fired 13 points in a scintillating stretch in the final period, overpowering a Hong Kong defense led by Fil-German Christian Standhardinger, who, incidentally, is set to suit up for San Miguel Beer in the PBA after the ABL season.

Justin Brownlee came up with another sterling all-around effort with 16 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists for Alab.

Eastern, the No. 2 seed, broke out of the gates hard, leading 17-4 early on, before Alab flipped the switch in the second period and exploded for 36 points with Balkman scoring heavily inside the paint.

Balkman promised a show in the series opener and delivered.

“We just came out and played hard. That’s what the playoffs are all about. I told them we were going to put on a show when we come down here,” Balkman said.

With Brownlee and Balkman leading the attack, the Filipinos surged to a 75-62 lead heading into the final period, before Eastern fought back to tie the count at 94 on back-to-back triples by Tyler Lamb and Lee Ki.

But Balkman recovered a loose ball in the next play, before making two foul shots. Following a Hong Kong turnover caused by Alab guard Pao Javelona, Brownlee hit two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to ice it.

Reigning local MVP Ray Parks also did his part with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Alapag is again counting on his prized trio to lead the fight in Game 2, with locals Josh Urbiztondo, Paolo Javelona, and Lawrence Domingo expected to provide backup.

“It’s going to take a huge effort on our part. Hong Kong will surely come out to play (hard) on Sunday, but we have to continue doing the same thing we did in Game 1. Stay focused and not get rattled,” Alapag said.

Other semifinal series

In the other semifinal series, Mono Vampire of Thailand turned back Chong Son Kung Fu of China, 103-74, in Nanhai to also close in on a Finals berth.

Jason Brickman had 25 points and 15 assists, while former University of the East guard Paul Zamar, playing as the Thais’ heritage import, contributed 20 points on 4-of-15 shooting.

Like Alab, Mono can close out the series in Game 2 on Wednesday in Bangkok.

The San Miguel banner is no stranger to flying high in the regional league, reaching the ABL Finals in its two-season stay and ultimately, winning it all in 2013 behind Asi Taulava, Chris Banchero, and Leo Avenido. —WITH REPORTS FROM CEDELF P. TUPAS