Alab PH eyes repeat over Slingers

Game Today (The Arena, San Juan)
8 p.m. – Alab Pilipinas vs Singapore

Tanduay Alab Pilipinas tries to repeat over the Singapore Slingers and extend its winning streak to four games as the two teams play the latter end of their home-and-home series tonight in the ASEAN Basketball League at The Arena in San Juan.

Attention will be on whether new imports Justin Brownlee and Renaldo Balkman can continue their impressive form since last week’s debut in the 8 p.m. match with the Slingers, who have become Alab’s main rival since its ABL debut last season.

Brownlee and Balkman, who replaced Reggie Okosa and Ivan Johnson at the start of the calendar year, helped Alab made up for allowing the Slingers to force overtime and seal an 89-80 victory Sunday at the OCBC Arena in Singapore.

The two made the big shots in the extension to keep the impressive run of form of the Jimmy Alapag-coached Alab since starting the season with three straight defeats.

Things could go better for Alab if its locals led by Ray Parks Jr., Josh Urbiztondo, Robby Celiz and Lawrence Domingo can give the needed support for the two imports.

Parks, Urbiztondo, Celiz and Domingo had solid outings in the hard-fought victory in the Lion City, but they are tasked to continue the same level of play with the Slingers eager to avenge that loss.

Alab will once again have its hands full containing Singapore’s 7-foot center Chris Charles, the two-time world import who had to bleed for his points and rebounds despite a double-double effort.

Singapore, in sixth place at 3-5, carries a bit of a psychological edge over Alab for winning on Philippine soil, 97-83, last Nov. 29 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Xavier Alexander is one of the players to watch for the Slingers as the American forward seems to be at his best whenever he plays Alab.

But Alexander was limited to just 2-of-19 shooting, his worst clip in eight matches against Alab.