The Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions continue to be unsolvable for Alab Pilipinas
The Long Lions continued to have Alab Pilipinas’ number, firing 17 triples en route to a 100-87 victory in the seventh ASEAN Basketball League, Friday night at the Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong.
With the victory, Hong Kong is now on a nine-game winning streak and improved their record to 14-2. Alab, on the other hand, dropped their fourth game in five outings and now sport a 9-8 card.
Hong Kong also defeated the Philippine side in their first encounter last January 22, 93-80.
Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. broke out of his slump, leading Alab with 21 points highlighted by three triples, along with 10 rebounds and six assists in a losing effort. Lawrence Domingo backed him up with 19 points and nine boards.
The Long Lions even led by as much as 28 points, 68-40, early in the third canto, but Alab came back and narrowed the gap within 14, 95-81, after a James Hughes lay-up with 4:20 remaining.
But that proved to be Alab’s last surge, as Chan Siu Wing uncorked a three-point dagger — Hong Kong’s 17th triple in the game — that shut the door for Alab, 98-81, with 3:40 to go.
From there, the Philippine side, despite head coach Mac Cuan opting not to rest his starters, never had the chance to stage one final comeback, absorbing a 13-point defeat.
Hughes finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Sampson Carter also had 14 points along with 13 rebounds. Jeric Fortuna chipped in 10.
Marcus Elliott topped the Long Lions with 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Lee Ki and Tyler Lamb had 21 and 20 points, respectively, with both players shooting a combined 12-of-24 shooting from beyond the arc.
The Filipinos shot only 31 of their 75 tries, while Hong Kong shot 36-of-73. However, they reigned supreme in the battle of the boards, 49-35. They also fared better in second chance points, 25-7, and points inside the paint, 44-30.
Alab’s bench provided 19 points, but Hong Kong’s reserves had more, producing 28. The Long Lions also scored better off the break, 11-9.
Alab and the Eastern Long Lions will meet for the third time this season on Sunday, March 12, 7:00 PM, this time on Alab’s home turf at Sta. Rosa Arena in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
The Scores:
Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions (100) – Elliott 23, Lee 21, Lamb 20, Boone 13, Chan 10, Guinchard 7, Fong 6, Ip 0, Tang 0, Chung 0, Wu 0, Lau 0.
Alab Pilipinas (87) – Parks 21, Domingo 19, Carter 14, Hughes 14, Fortuna 10, Acuña 9, Hubalde 0, Cawaling 0, Celiz 0.
Quarterscores: 33-18, 60-40, 86-68, 100-87.
Photo by Kuk Thew/ASEAN Basketball League
