Do-or-die in ABL
It would be a mystical, if not fitting, closure to a tempestuous season if San Miguel Pale Pilsen Alab Pilipinas beats Mono Vampire of Thailand in the Game 5 clincher of the ABL bestof-5 Finals at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Gym in Laguna tonight. But writing a happy ending in the last chapter of what could be a storybook finish isn’t something Vampire has in mind for the host squad.
Vampire wants the championship just as badly as Alab so expect a dogfight in the climax of the ABL’s eighth season. Both the Philippines and Thailand have won two titles apiece since the inaugural campaign in 2009-10.
The battle isn’t just about the world imports. The tendency is for the world imports to dominate the stats sheets because the league doesn’t apply height limits. But in the Finals, the “others” have played an increasingly important role in determining the outcome of each game.
With Alab, the world imports are Renaldo Balkman and Justin Brownlee who’ve both played in the PBA.
PBA and Gilas legend Jimmy Alapag is Alab’s head coach and his staff includes assistant Mac Cuan and consultant Danny Seigle. Backing up the world imports are Bobby Ray Parks, Fil-Ams Lawrence Domingo and Josh Urbiztondo, Pao Javelona, Pamboy Raymundo, Dondon Hontiveros, Chris Sumalinog, Jay-R Alabanza, Robbie Celiz and injured Rico Maierhofer.
With Vampire, the world imports are 7-5 Maltese behemoth Sam Deguara, 26, and Mike Singletary. Vampire’s ASEAN heritage imports are Fil-Am Jason Brickman of Long Island University and pure Filipino Paul Zamar of UE. Coach Doug Marty’s locals include stalwarts of the Thai national team. It’s strange that ThaiAmerican Tyler Lamb, who plays for the Thai national squad, isn’t with Vampire in the ABL but with Hong Kong Eastern.
Alab entered the Finals with a sevengame winning streak, a remarkable reversal from a 0-3 start. Alab dismissed original imports Ivan Johnson and Reggie Okosa after four outings to bring in the two Bs. In the Finals opener at Sta. Rosa, Alab won, 143-130, in overtime. Deguara fouled out in regulation and Brickman sat out the extension with cramps, paving the way for Alab to finish with a flourish. Brownlee scattered 46 points and Balkman had 39. But the win wouldn’t have been possible without Parks who hit 27, Domingo who fired 14, Raymundo who shot 9 and Javelona who netted 8. Vampire came back to tie the count, 103-100, also at Sta. Rosa as Brownlee was held to 14 and Vampire had more assists, 28-20 and more free throw conversions, 25-of-33 to 18-of-20. Deguara was a monster with 30 points and 20 boards while Singletary tallied 26 points, Brickman had 15 points and 11 assists and Zamar chipped in 12.
Alab took Game 3, 99-93, in Nanthaburi with the two Bs combining for 51 points, 28 rebounds and 14 assists Parks erupted for 30 points as Alab had more three-point connections, 13-of-29 to 7-of-21 and dominated the glass, 58-42. Then, Vampire evened the series in Game 4, 88-83, as Alab was held to a Finals-low 40 percent from the field and a Finals-high 26 turnovers. For the first time in the series, both Brownlee and Balkman were limited to less than 20 points each as they scored only 18 apiece.
The team that plays with poise in executing on both ends will win Game 5. Alab shot itself in the foot in Game 4 by committing 26 errors, 19 in the first half, as Brownlee and Balkman couldn’t get their offense going. Parks led Alab’s scorers for the second straight contest with 21 points. Vampire got the usual numbers from Deguara, Singletary, Zamar and Brickman plus significant contributions from Chanachon Khalan, Darongpon Apiromvilaichai, Chitchai Ananti and Teerawat Chanthachon. Vampire’s bench delivered 15 points to Alab’s 7.
For Alab to win, Alapag’s charges must minimize Deguara’s touches in the interior. That means either fronting Deguara on defense or putting pressure on the distributor making the entry pass. In Game 4, Vampire scored 56 points in the paint to Alab’s 40. Vampire’s locals must also be checked. Zamar is a man on a mission to prove himself after not getting an offer from the PBA and he’s averaging 16 points in the Finals. Alab has to do a better job of holding Zamar down. Then, there’s Brickman who’s averaging 13.5 points and 11.8 assists in the series. He’s the man getting the ball to Singletary and Deguara. He, too, must be marked closely if Alab hopes to win tonight. On offense, Alab is deadliest in transition. When the two Bs are on the break, they’re like express freight trains trying to beat a delivery deadline. They’re unstoppable and besides, Deguara isn’t able to keep pace in an up-and-down game. Alab can’t afford to give away possessions like it did in Game 4. Alab’s goal is to make history in the ABL. Will it happen tonight?