Alab, Thais dispute ABL Finals lead

BANGKOK – San Miguel Alab Pilipinas vows to find a way to slow down giant Sam Deguara and bounce back from a heartbreaking defeat to Mono Vampire as the ASEAN Basketball League Finals unfolds here today for the pivotal Game 3 at the Studio 29.

The 7-5 Deguara scored 30 points and hauled down 20 rebounds to power the Thais to a thrilling 103-100 victory in Game Two of their best-of-five playoff at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna late Wednesday, tying the series and reducing it to a best-of-three affair.

Now playing on a hostile turf, Alab also have to contend with the crowd tipped to come in full force for the much needed support for the Thais, who will be hosting the next two games.

Deguara’s exploits included a three-point play off a John Ray Alabanza foul late in the game that gave Mono Vampire a three-point cushion and the crucial victory.

Gametime is at 3:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. Philippine time) with Game Four set Monday.

A deciding match, if necessary, will be played back in the Phl Wednesday.

“We’ve done it before. We just got to believe in ourselves that we can do it again,” said Jimmy Alapag, referring to his wards’ stealing road games, including their win over the Saigon Heat, known for having the most boisterous fans in the league, in the quarterfinals.

Justin Brownlee is expected to suit up after a bum knee hampered his stint in Game Two.

Brownlee did return late in the match but misfired on a pair of three-point attempts in the closing seconds that would have forced overtime.

He finished way below his norm 14 points and is itching to redeem himself today with Renaldo Balkman failing to carry the team by his lonesome. He, however, finished with 37 points and 12 rebounds while sacrificing his body against the hulking Deguara.