Renaldo Balkman and Justin Brownlee delivered the big plays in the dying seconds as San Miguel Alab Pilipinas posted a thrilling 86-84 victory over Thailand’s Mono Vampire Wednesday in the ASEAN Basketball League at the Baliuag Star Arena in Bulacan.
Balkman scored the go-ahead layup off a pick-and-roll play with Brownlee with 3.8 seconds left before the latter blocked Mono Vampire import Mike Singletary’s three-point attempt from the corner to extend Alab’s franchise-record winning streak to six games.
Alab improved to 9-4 to leapfrog Mono Vampire for third while move within striking distance of defending champion Hong Kong Eastern (9-2) and Chinese club Chong Son Kung Fu (8-2).
Coach Jimmy Alapag and company have lost just once since a 0-3 start, winning eight games since Brownlee and Balkman were tapped to replace Reggie Okosa and Ivan Johnson at the start of 2018.
Balkman had 31 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and five steals while Brownlee produced 16 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and five blocks.
Reigning Local Most Valuable Player Ray Parks Jr. added 10 points and four assists.
