Alab Pilipinas routs Zhuhai anew in ABL

SAN Miguel Alab Pilipinas protected its pristine record at home as it pulverized the lowly Zhuhai Wolf Warriors anew, 108-81, in Season 9 Asean Basketball League (ABL) on Sunday night at the Sta. Rosa Multi-purpose Complex in Laguna.

The defending Filipino champion team bucked the absence of Puerto Rican giant PJ Ramos to stay unscathed in 11 home games and post its fourth win in as many encounters against the cellar- dwelling Chinese club.

Alab Pilipinas, which already secured a playoff berth, further pulled away from the rest of the 10-team league as it improved to 15-3.

Last season’s Defensive Player of the Year Renaldo Balkman fired a team-best 20 points on top of nine assists, six rebounds, three blocks and a steal while two-time Local MVP Ray Parks Jr. poured in 17 markers, five boards and five dimes.

Brandon Rosser chipped in 16 points, Caelan Tiongson contributed 14 markers and Lawrence Domingo added 12 for the Jimmy Alapag-mentored squad.

With its balanced attack, Alab ably filled the void left by the 7-foot-4 center Ramos, who was suspended for incurring his fifth technical foul in their 105-79 beating of Zhuhai last Friday at the Doumen Gymnasium in China.

Alab zoomed to a massive 56-32 lead as Tiongson buried his fourth triple late in the first half.

The home side sustained its fiery shooting and even posted its biggest buffer at 35 points, 102-67, on Pao Javelona’s trey with only 4:38 remaining in the game.

Cai Chen led the visiting Zhuhai with a game-high 32 points, six rebounds and two assists while Cory Bradford had 23 markers and fellow import Mike Bell had 11.

The Wolf Warriors suffered their third straight setback and fell to a dismal 2-17 card.