The Singapore Slingers continued their dominance over Tanduay Alab Pilipinas as they obliterated the Filipino cagers, 97-83, Wednesday night at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna.
Tanduay Alab now sport a 0-2 card, while the Slingers improved to 2-1, in a bout that was a rematch of last season’s semifinals, where Singapore blew away the second-year franchise.
Veteran World Import Xavier Alexander top-billed the Slingers with 27 points and 11 rebounds, while fellow reinforcement Ryan Wright supplied 24 markers and 18 boards. Singapore national team cager Hanbin Ng provided 18 points.
Filipino-Canadian AJ Mandani also made his presence felt in the win, as he chipped in 17 markers.
Alab actually threatened the visitors in the third quarter, coming back from a deep 44-58 deficit in the 6:58 mark behind World Imports Ivan Johnson and Reggie Okosa to knock by a point, 71-72, with 26.6 ticks left in the frame.
The Slingers, however, proved to be too much. Last season’s finalists unloaded a crowd-silencing 21-4 surge — capped by a Mandani jumper — to build a game-high 95-75 lead with 4:05 left to play, enough to put Tanduay Alab away from good.
Okosa led the Filipino dribblers with 24 points on top of 10 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Johnson backed him up with 19 markers on 6-of-15 shooting along with eight caroms and three blocks, while Ray Parks added 14.
Tanduay Alab shot 47 percent, but got out-rebounded 47-37 by the Slingers. And in terms of errors, Wednesday night was much better compared to their opening day loss to Hong Kong Eastern, as Alab only had 14 — four shy of last time.
Tanduay Alab will look to enter the win column and exact revenge on opening day tormentors Hong Kong Eastern Basketball Team as they cross paths again on December 13 at the Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong.
The Scores:
Singapore 97 – Alexander 27, Wright 24, Hanbin 17, Mandani 17, Goh 11, Lim 0, Low 0, Oh 0.
Tanduay Alab 83 – Okosa 24, Johnson 19, Parks 14, Urbiztondo 11, Sumalinog 7, Domingo 5, Hontiveros 2, Raymundo 1, Celiz 0, Maierhofer 0, Alabanza 0.
Quarterscores: 23-15, 50-38, 74-71, 97-83.
