Alab defeats Saigon in ABL quarters Game 1

San Miguel Beer-Alab Pilipinas’ Justin Brownlee towers over Saigon Heat defenders for a floater. SPIN.PH

MANILA – San Miguel Beer-Alab Pilipinas scored a wire-to-wire 110-100 victory over Saigon Heat in Game 1 of the 2018 ASEAN Basketball League best-of-three quarterfinals at the San Juan Arena.

Bobby Ray Parks Jr. led the way with 24 points, Justin Brownlee had double-double 22 points and 17 rebounds, while Renaldo Balkman had 17 points and 20 boards for Alab.

The Philippine-based team, which also drew strength from Filipino-American forward Lawrence Domingo’s 18 points, can clinch the semifinals seat in Game 2 Saturday at the CIS Arena in Ho Chi Minh City.

“Regardless where we end up, I’m happy with where we are as a team,” said Alab head coach Jimmy Alapag. “We really do not expect anything heading into this conference but we are now close to the semifinals.”

Ahead 30-24 at the end of first quarter, Alab pulled away in the second with hits from Domingo and Robby Celiz for a 37-28 lead. Saigon came close, just within 5 points, but Alab doubled the lead up before halftime.

Alab continued to rally in the third – conversions from Parks, Brownlee and Balkman and a triple from Dondon Hontiveros allowed them to build their largest lead in the game 97-75.

Fueled by the ejection of head coach Kyle Julius, Saigon tried to make a last stand in the final period on consecutive 3-point shootings but could just come to as close as 10 points.

Maxie Unle Esho led the way with double-double 42 points and 11 rebounds while Filipino-American Michael Williams and Akeem Scott finished with 19 points each for Saigon./PN

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