Alab aims to dominate Hong Kong Eastern anew

SAN Miguel Alab Pilipinas guns for an eighth straight win as it seeks to sweep Hong Kong Eastern Basketball Club in Season 9 Asean Basketball League (ABL) today at the Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

Game time is at 8 p.m., with the Filipino ball club and its Hong Kong counterpart battling for the fourth and final time this season.

Defending champion Alab Pilipinas bagged its seventh straight victory with a 96-81 rout of Hong Kong Eastern on Friday night at the same venue.

It was also Alab’s third triumph in as many encounters against the Long Lions.

The leading Jimmy Alapag-mentored squad is also eyeing to improve its record of 13 wins against two defeats.

Last season’s Defensive Player of the Year Renaldo Balkman and fellow Puerto Rican reinforcement PJ Ramos are tabbed to take charge on the paint.

Balkman scored a game-high 32 points on top of four rebounds and as many assists while Ramos finished with a double- double of 11 markers and 14 boards in the Filipino team’s previous win.

Two-time MVP Ray Parks Jr., who fired 23 points last game, is expected to provide extra firepower along with other local standouts in Pao Javelona, Ethan Alvano and Lawrence Domingo.

The No. 5 Hong Kong Eastern, on the other hand, hopes to reclaim its winning ways and hike its 11-9 record.

Spanish mentor Edu Torres will count on World Imports O’Darien Bassett, Samuel Deguara and Marcus Elliott to lead the Long Lions.