Red-hot Alab up against Macau

MANILA, Philippines — Fresh from a long break, the streaking Alab Pilipinas tries to pick up where it left off when it meets the Macau Wolf Warriors in the resumption of the ASEAN Basketball League today at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.

Currently on a fiery four-game winning streak, the Philippine bet (4-1) shoots for a repeat win against the visitors at 7:30 p.m. and a share of top spot with Mono Vampire (5-1) midway through the first preliminary round.

After being dethroned last season, the San Miguel-backed franchise actually got off to a slow start this year with a tough 111-76 defeat to Mono before rediscovering its form with four straight victories to end the 2019.

Alab copped key wins against the Warriors (114-110), Singapore Slingers (90-83), Mono (96-73) and Formosa Dreamers (100-99) to head into rematch against Macau with supreme confidence and momentum.

The Philippine representative, which ruled the prestigious regional club tourney in 2018, will be bannered once again by Sam Deguara, Khalif Wyatt and ABL Player of the Month Nick King, who averaged 18.4 point, 7.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists in December.  

Backstopping them from the local side are Jason Brickman, Jordan Heading, Louie Vigil, Brandon Rosser, Lawrence Domingo and Jeremiah Gray.

Repeating against the Warriors even with an expected homecrowd behind them, however, will not sound easy for Alab with the visitors looking extra hungry after a tough 76-72 loss against the Slingers just before the holiday break.

At 2-4, Macau is anticipated to come out firing at Alab’s turf with world imports Julian Boyd and Doug Herring leading the charge.