STA. ROSA, Laguna — Alab Pilipinas prevailed at home despite Saigon Heat’s brave stand in the fourth quarter with an 82-75 win in their Asean Basketball League game at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex here on Sunday night.
Up by as much as 23 points, 60-37, in the third quarter, Alab found themselves dropping the game against the cellar-dwelling Heat as the latter gained momentum later in the second half and were just down by four, 75-79, with 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Alab escaped after Saigon conceded a dagger dunk from Sam Deguara in the next play.
Nick King put up 26 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and four steals for Alab, which is now in second place in the team standings at 9-5, one game ahead of Taipei Fubon, which fell at Singapore in overtime, 99-106, earlier Sunday, and Formosa.
Sam Thompson exploded for 32 points, 22 in the second half, 11 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block for Saigon, which slipped further to 3-10. (PNA)
Box Scores:
First Game
Singapore 106-Kwek 26, Elliott 25, Alexander 24, McClain 12, Goh 10, K. Lim 6, J. Lim 3, Ng 0
Taipei Fubon 99-Esho 25, Garcia 25, Mayo 20, J. Lin 11, Tsai 8, Tseng 5, Kuo 3, M. Lin 2, Hung 0, Yang 0
Quarterscores: 24-17, 39-42, 67-70, 93-93, 106-99
Second Game
Alab Pilipinas 82-King 26, Deguara 15, Gray 13, Heading 9, Domingo 6, Brickman 5, Rosser 4, Williams 2, Vigil 2, Caracut 0, Aban 0, Rangel 0
Saigon 75-Thompson 32, Taylor 15, White 10, Tran 7, Young 5, Dierker 2, Nguyen 2, Dinh 2
Quarterscores: 25-15, 50-31, 71-54, 82-75
