By Jonas Terrado
Game Sunday
(Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
6 p.m. — Saigon vs Alab Pilipinas
San Miguel Alab Pilipinas cruised past the Saigon Heat 99-79 on Sunday despite missing Justin Brownlee for the second straight game in the ASEAN Basketball League at the City of Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna.
Sam Deguara imposed his will in the paint to key San Miguel Alab Pilipinas’ home win over the Saigon Heat. (Photo from ABL)
The lopsided win solidified Alab’s hold on second place with a 10-6 record even with Brownlee once again a no-show, reportedly for continuously missing flights since agreeing to reinforce the team as a replacement for struggling import Prince Williams.
Brownlee was supposed to debut in Wednesday’s loss to the Kuala Lumpur Dragons in Malaysia.
This time, Alab was hardly affected by Brownlee’s absence as 7-foot-5 Sam Deguara lorded the paint on his way to 23 points and eight rebounds while fellow import Nick King added 20 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists.
Point guard Jason Brickman posted 10 points and nine assists while Lawrence Domingo picked up the scoring slack for the locals in the absence of Jeremiah Gray for 18 points with six rebounds and two blocks.
Alab won the first part of a home-and-home series with the Vietnamese squad, which is slated to host the return match on March 1 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Import Sam Thompson registered 36 points and 10 rebounds but the Heat fell to a league-worst 3-11 record.
The scores:
ALAB PILIPINAS 99 — Deguara 23, King 20, Domingo 18, Brickman 10, Vigil 8, Ganuelas-Rosser 8, Heading 7, Rangel 5.
SAIGON 79 — Thompson 36, Tran 18, White 13, Taylor 7, Q. Nguyen 3, Dierker 2, Young 0, Dinh 0, Waale 0, T. Nguyen 0.
Quarters: 25-17; 56-36; 75-56; 99-79.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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