HONG KONG threw everything it could against San Miguel Alab Pilipinas world import Renaldo Balkman last Wednesday, but nothing was able to stop the Puerto Rican from running wild and writing himself in the history books with a new league record for most number of points in a playoff game with 46 points, as Alab finally took down the Eastern Long Lions, 98-94.
The two-year-old franchise from the Philippines looks to close out their best-of-three semifinals series against the defending champions this Sunday in the ASEAN Basketball League in front of a home crowd waiting to explode in cheers at the Sta. Rosa Multi-purpose Complex in Sta. Rosa Laguna. Filipinos can watch and cheer for the squad on ABS-CBN S+A and S+A HD, which will air the game live at 8 p.m.
Balkman was a man on a mission as he also grabbed 14 rebounds and stymied the vaunted frontline of Ryan Moss and Fil-German Christian Standhardinger, whom he punished on the offensive end. With a monster performance, the Puerto Rican beat the record set by Singapore Slingers’ Justin Howard, who scored 45 points in a playoff game in the 2015-2016 season.
Fellow world import Justin Brownlee flirted with another triple double finishing with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists, while reigning ABL MVP Bobby Ray Parks Jr. had one of his best games of the season by scattering 23 markers and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Aside from their big three, the Alab bench also stepped up big in their game and this proved to be a difference maker. Resident S+A anchor and ABL analyst Marco Benitez believes that for Alab to pull the rug from under the defending champs, the bench has to be the weapon of choice for the team, as they have a deep bench unit.
“Alab has a couple of guys off the bench they can use to counter Hong Kong's size (Standhardinger and Ryan Moss). Domingo has played exceptionally well the past 3-4 games and has been their best player off the bench. JR Alabanza has shown that he can also play quality minutes and be a force on the defensive end. This will be crucial as this will mean that Balkman can preserve himself from foul trouble by not having to be (Christian) Standhardinger's primary defender,” he said, which was evident in the team’s huge victory.
Meanwhile, on the other semifinals match-up, Thailand’s Mono Vampire drew first blood as they beat China’s Chong Son Kung Fu 103-94 also last night April 11, to move a step closer to the Finals. Their game will be aired on S+A and S+A HD tomorrow (April 13) at 8 p.m.
Don’t miss San Miguel Alab Pilipinas’ attempt to dethrone the defending champions Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions this Sunday (April 15) on ABS-CBN S+A and S+A HD LIVE at 8 pm in the continuation of the ABL playoffs at the Sta. Rosa Multi-purpose Complex in Sta. Rosa Laguna. For more information and stories, visit ABS-CBN’s sports hub sports.abs-cbn.com and follow @ABSCBNSports on Facebook and Twitter.
