MANILA — Alab Pilipinas came alive in crunch time to beat Taipei Fubon Braves, 101-96, in their ASEAN Basketball League clash at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City on Tuesday night.
Trailing by as much as eight points with six minutes left, Alab went on an 18-5 run to take the lead, 94-89, with 1:53 remaining.
After both teams exchanged baskets, Jeremiah Gray helped saved the game for Alab as he blocked OJ Mayo’s three-point attempt that would have cut the lead down to two.
Although Mayo bounced back with a layup that trimmed the lead down to three, 99-96, with 17.2 seconds left, Alab got to chip some time before Khalif Wyatt drained the two insurance free throws with 8.9 seconds to play.
Sam Deguara bounced back from his off night against the Macau Wolf Warriors two nights ago with 26 points and 14 rebounds to lead Alab, which moved up to third place at 5-2, a half-game behind league-leading Mono Vampire in the standings and just below the Kuala Lumpur Dragons for second place on winning percentage.
Nick King added 22 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one steal, while Wyatt chipped in 21 markers, four boards, four dimes, and one swipe.
In his best performance so far in the season, Gray finished with 17 points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals, and two blocks.
Mayo finished with 35 points, six rebounds, and nine assists, while Charles Garcia chipped in 27 markers, six caroms, two dimes, and one swat for Fubon, which slipped to fourth place at 6-4. (PNA)
