Mono Vampire defuses Alab

Forces Rubber in abl title duel

BANGKOK – Mono Vampire drew another giant-sized performance from Samuel Deguara and banked on Paul Zamar’s clutch shot as it repulsed San Miguel Alab Pilipinas, 88-83, yesterday to force a sudden death in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) Finals at Stadium 29 here.

The 7-5 Deguara powered his way to 20 points on a nine-of-13 shooting clip and hauled down 13 rebounds. He also came through with five shot blocks as the hosts bounced back from their 93-99 loss in Game Three Saturday to send their best-of-five series to a deciding match.

They dispute the crown tomorrow back at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Virtually unstoppable at the paint, Deguara though had to fight off fatigue and had to be taken out midway in the fourth quarter for vomiting due to exhaustion.

But Deguara, who fired 30 points and hauled down 20 rebounds in their 103-100 Game Two victory in Sta. Rosa, came back in the closing minutes, again providing intimidating presence in the shaded lane and helping anchor Mono Vampire’s scrambling victory to the delight of the boisterous Thai crowd.

Zamar finished with just 11 points and was outscored by reigning back-to-back local MVP Bobby Ray Parks, who fired 21 markers. But the former hit a key shot over the latter to give the Thais enough cushion to hang on to the victory.

The Thai club also drew solid contributions from its bench in the first half with Teerawat Chanthachon and Chitchai Ananti chipping in six points apiece.

Alab coach Jimmy Alapag lauded his wards’ defensive efforts but rued their season-worst 26 turnovers that stymied their bid to wrap up the series.

“We hurt ourselves with a season-worst 26 turnovers. It can’t happen on a close out game and that’s on us,” said Alapag, who, however, vowed to win it all at home.

“We’ll take a look at the film and be ready for Wednesday,” he said.

The scores:

Mono Vampire 88 – Singletary 20, Deguara 20, Brickman 13, Zamar 11, Apiromvilaichai 9, Chanthachon 6, Ananti 6, Klahan 3

San Miguel Alab Pilipinas 83 – Parks Jr. 21, Brownlee 18, Balkman 18, Domingo 14, Raymundo 5, Sumalinog 3, Urbiztondo 2, Javelona 2, Alabanza 0, Hontiveros 0.

Quarterscores: 23-18, 45-42, 69-69, 88-83