ALAB PILIPINAS BRACES FOR ABL ACTION

SAN Miguel Alab Pilipinas begins its title defense against CLS Knights Indonesia in Season 9 Asean Basketball League ( ABL) at 8 p. m. tonight at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.

The San Miguel- backed ball club ended the Philippines’ three- year drought in the regional hoops tournament last season by besting Mono Vampire Basketball Club of Thailand in the finals that went the distance.

Alab swept CLS in their four encounters last season.

The Jimmy Alapag- mentored team will bank on back- to- back local Most Valuable Player Ray Parks Jr., Puerto Rican imports Renaldo Balkman and PJ Ramos and Heritage Imports Lawrence Domingo and Caelan Tiongson.

This could possibly be Parks’ last game for Alab, as he is joining the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Draft on December 16.

Former De La Salle University standouts Prince Rivero and Thomas Torres are expected to make their ABL debut.

The CLS Knights, No. 7 in the 10- team standings, are eager to snap a two- game losing skid and improve their 1- 3 record.

The Indonesian squad suffered back- to- back losses to the Macau Black Bears ( 110- 117) and Saigon Heat ( 64- 76).

World Imports Maxie Esho and Mont a yB ran don and Singapore anIndonesian Heritage Import Wei Long Wong are expected to lead CLS this season.