San Miguel Alab Pilipinas stumbled to the second seed of the 2019 ASEAN Basketball League playoffs, losing to the Saigon Heat, 81-80, to finish their elimination assignment Sunday at CIS Arena in Vietnam.
Renaldo Balkman could not stop the defending champions from dropping to their fourth straight defeat, as his 25 points, eight rebounds, and two assists went down the drain.
Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. almost had a chance to break the 80-all deadlock, but Kyle Barone stuffed his lay-up with 22 seconds remaining.
Oping Sumalinog then fouled Trevon Hughes on the other end. The American reinforcement split his shots from the line for the marginal lead as Saigon held on for the win.
Hughes paced the Heat with 24 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and four steals as they locked up the five-seed at 14-12.
Kyle Barone chipped in 22 points, 14 boards, and three blocks. DeAngelo Hamilton recorded a double-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
Parks, Jr. nabbed 16 points, two rebounds, and two assists, while Brandon Rosser had 14 points and eight rebounds in his first game from a knee injury.
PJ Ramos missed the trip for Alab.
Alab fell to 18-8 but will remain second place. The Philippine side will head into a best-of-three quarterfinals showdown against Hong Kong Eastern next week.
The Scores:
San Miguel Alab 80 — Balkman 25, Parks 16, Rosser 14, Alvano 9, Sumalinog 6, Rivero 5, Urbiztondo 3, Javelona 2, Alabanza 0, Torres 0.
Saigon Heat 81 — Hughes 24, Barone 22, Hamilton 17, Tran 7, Dierker 6, Cilia 3, Young 2.
Quarterscores: 17-22, 38-42, 60-61, 80-81.
