Game Today
(USEP gym, Davao City)
8 p.m. – Alab Pilipinas vs Hong Kong
Alab Pilipinas eyes a strong start this time against the league-leading Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions and snap a three-game losing skid tonight in the ASEAN Basketball League at the University of Southeastern Philippines gym in Davao City.
Coach Mac Cuan and company are hoping to finally solve their struggles against the fancied Long Lions in the 8 p.m. game down south after losing by an average of 17 points in their two meetings last week.
A victory over Hong Kong, which saw its 10-game winning streak snapped with a home loss to the Saigon Heat at midweek, would give Alab a morale-booster as the league’s quadruple-round eliminations enter the homestretch.
With a 9-9 record, Alab holds a 1 1/2-game lead over the Heat (7-10) in the race for third spot and a date with the Singapore Slingers in the best-of-three semifinals set in April.
Another loss could put Saigon closer to the third spot, depending on the Vietnamese side’s match hours earlier against the Slingers in Singapore.
In its last two defeats, Alab couldn’t contain Hong Kong’s fiery start which was anchored by a deadly three-point shooting led by Thai-American Tyler Lamb and local Lee Ki, even as the Filipino team’s top local Ray Parks Jr. struggled in the 83-61 loss exactly a week ago in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Parks shot 2-of-12 from the field for just nine points in that stinging setback.
“We need a good start. We have to come out and compete from the tip, bring the energy and effort,” Cuan told the ABL’s official website.
“During the one week break, we focused on enjoying the game again. When you have that kind of losing streak you tend to focus on the negative and become tight. I just wanted us to remember why we started the season well.”
