Hong Kong Eastern presents tough challenge for PH as Westports Malaysia Dragons did

Defending champion San Miguel Alab Pilipinas tries to bounce from a heartbreaking road loss two nights earlier when it takes on Hong Kong Eastern tonight in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) at the City of Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna.

Alab’s resolve will be tested in the 8 p.m. encounter after suffering its first defeat at the hands of the Westports Malaysia Dragons, 72-71, at MABA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

The match between the last two ABL champions is the third in a stretch of four games in eight days for Alab, which is reeling from losing for the first time after starting the season with five consecutive victories.

Malaysia won courtesy of a Jonathan Wong layup with 18 seconds remaining as point guard Ethan Alvano threw a bad pass on Alab’s final possession.

Coach Jimmy Alapag is banking on his team to regain its swagger, especially against a Hong Kong Eastern side considered as one of the league’s contenders with a 7-4 record, tied for third with Vietnam’s Saigon Heat and Taiwan’s Formosa Dreamers.

Serving as one of the subplots in the match is the battle of the giants pitting Alab’s 7-foot-4 PJ Ramos and Hong Kong’s 7-foot-5 center Sam Deguara.

The Malta-born Deguara joined Hong Kong after helping Thailand’s Mono Vampire advanced to the finals, losing in five games to Alab. Deguara is averaging 15.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 11 games.

Ramos is expected to team up with fellow Puerto Rican import Renaldo Balkman as Alab braces for a dogfight.

Out to redeem himself is Ray Parks Jr., who had his worst game of the season after posting just five points on 2-of-9 shooting against the Dragons.

Alab will also be on the lookout for 2017 World MVP Marcus Elliott, who leads Hong Kong in scoring at 23.4 points on 43 percent shooting.