Alab bows to Thais; do-or-die finals set

Filipino-American guard Jason Brickman of Mono Vampire stretches for a layup against San Miguel-Alab Pilipinas in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday, April 30. ABL

MANILA – San Miguel-Alab Pilipinas failed to wrest the 2018 ASEAN Basketball League crown in a game on the opponent’s home floor.

It lost to Mono Vampire of Thailand 83-88 in Game 4 of the finals Monday night at the Stadium 29 in Bangkok.

The series was thus extended to a do-or-die Game 5 tonight at the Santa Rosa Multipurpose Sports Complex in Laguna.

“It’s a very good team were playing against. We can’t give them too many chances,” said Alab head coach Jimmy Alapag.

“Defensively, we were great, held them to 80 points, but when you give them 24 points off your turnovers, it’s tough to win,” he added.

Alab trailed for most of the game but managed to force a 69-all deadlock at the end of the third period. Vampires then started the fourth with a 10-2 scoring run to build a 79-71 lead.

Alab tried to make a run late in the match to come to as close as 83-86 on baskets from Lawrence Domingo and Justin Brownlee but Paul Zamar converted a basket for Vampires in the next play to seal the victory.

Michael Singletary and 7-foot-5 center Samuel Deguara led the way with 20 points apiece while Filipino imports Jason Brickman and Zamar added 13 and 11 points, respectively, for Vampires.

“Another thrilling game in a thrilling series,” said Vampires mentor Douglas Marty.

“I’m really, really proud of the team. It’s an elimination game. We haven’t beaten them on this court. The pressure was on us. I’m so proud of the guys. They brought the energy.”

Reigning MVP Bobby Ray Parks Jr. led the way with 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Brownlee and Renaldo Balkman had 18 and 13 points, respectively, for Alab./PN

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