Game Today
(Baliuag Star Arena, Bulacan)
8 p.m. – Alab Pilipinas vs Mono Vampire
The chance at reaching the top three and catch up with the leaders is what San Miguel Alab Pilipinas hopes to get when it shoots for a sixth consecutive victory tonight against Thailand’s Mono Vampire in the ASEAN Basketball League at the Baliuag Star Arena in Bulacan.
There seems to be no signs of slowing down for the Jimmy Alapag-coached squad after Sunday’s 82-69 win over the Singapore Slingers on the road while entering the 8 p.m. match brimming with confidence after having dealt Mono a crushing 114-87 defeat last month in Bangkok.
Alab, however, is not taking Mono (9-4) lightly as it tries to move in solo third and close in on defending champion Hong Kong Eastern (9-2) and Chinese side Chong Son Kung Fu (7-2) in the team standings.
Imports Justin Brownlee and Renaldo Balkman are again tasked to provide the needed spark as Alab looks to improve on its 8-4 record.
Reigning Local Most Valuable Player Ray Parks Jr. has seen his play improved since the winning streak while veteran guard Josh Urbiztondo is turning into Alab’s best local player with an average of 12.6 points on a 44-percent clip from three-point range.
Fil-American Lawrence Domingo and Rico Maierhofer will also be given substantial minutes and play complimentary roles for Alab’s main weapons.
Mono Vampire comes to Bulacan seeking for revenge behind 7-foot-5 import Samuel Degura, ex-PBA import Mike Singletary, Fil-American point guard Jason Brickman, former University of the East standout Paul Zamar and Thai national team stars Chitchai Ananti, Kannut Samerjai and Chanchon Klahan.
The Thai club also has a streak of its own, bouncing back from the Alab loss with victories over the Slingers, Saigon Heat and Formosa Dreamers.