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Undermanned Alab fall short against Slingers, exit ABL Playoffs

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Josh Urbiztondo and Xavier Alexander slammed the door on Alab Pilipinas season with a clinical game 2 win that gave them the return ticket to the ABL finals .(ABL/file)
By JP Abcede

MANILA--The Alab Pilipinas felt the absence of Bobby Ray Parks and Jeric Fortuna as they got swept by the Singapore Slingers, losing the second game of their 2016-17 ASEAN Basketball League semifinals series, 64-82, at the Baliwag Star Arena.

After finding themselves trailing by as many as 20 in the second period, Alab tried their best to fight back in the second half. However, they ran out of gas as Josh Urbiztondo scored five points to cap a 14-4 run to start the fourth period, the Slingers going ahead by 19, 74-55, 6:41 left in the game.

Xavier Alexander led the way for Singapore with 21 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block. Urbiztondo was everywhere as he finished with a statline of 20 markers, five caroms, six dimes, and two steals.

Justin Howard concluded the contest with a double-double of 18 and 16. Leon Kwek had ten.

The Slingers reach the finals for the second straight season. They await the winner in the other semis series between the Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions and Saigon Heat.

Lawrence Domingo topscored for the home team with 18 points, while also hauling 13 rebounds in more than 33 minutes of action. Kiefer Ravena chipped in with 16 markers, four boards, four assists, and two steals, bucking early foul trouble.

James Hughes also had a double-double with ten points and 14 rebounds.

Parks sprained his ankle in the first game of the semis series on Sunday, while Fortuna was out with an injured elbow.

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