By M.A. Manez
MANILA –
Filipino-American
Joshua Munzon saved Westports Malaysia Dragons from disaster as he sunk the
marginal charity shot and snapped San Miguel Alab Pilipinas’ eight-game victory
ride with a pulsating 90-89 squeaker at the ASEAN Basketball League, Sunday
afternoon, at the MABA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
The
win hiked their record to 5-10 and added flicker to their seemingly dying hopes
of advancing to the playoffs.
Munzon
plowed in 19 markers despite shooting 5-for-17 in the field all game long. He also
chalked up six boards, an assist, three steals and two blocks for the effort.
World
import Chris Eversley paced all scorers with 36 markers, a big follow up of his
38 point performance in their win over the Formosa Dreamers last week.
The
Dragons were on the receiving end of getting swept by their newest victims as
they clawed back from eight points down and clamped down Alab’s offense in the
dying moments.
San
Miguel Alab Pilipinas tried to save their streak with eight seconds left but
Dondon Hontiveros’ desperation three from right failed to swish in.
Alab’s
dynamic import duo of Renaldo Balkman and Justin Brownlee saw their combined 58-point spread went down the drain as they suffered their fifth setback against
11 wins, sliding them back to third. Balkman also had 19 rebounds (11
offensive), two assists, one steal and one block. Just like Munzon, Balkman played
all 40 minutes in Sunday’s face off.
Both
teams went toe-to-toe in the first 20 minutes with Alab holding a slight
advantage after 20 minutes, 47-44.
Despite
shooting less than their victims, the Dragons found their range, hitting 10 of
their 27 attempts (37 percent) from rainbow distance as against Alab’s 5-for-18 (27 percent).
They also more free throws (34 as against the 20 of Alab), sinking 26, including
the winning charity. They also hold a 10-4 advantage in steals.
Action
resumes with Alab travelling north to Nanhai Gymnasium on Wednesday with Chong
Son Kung Fu seeking revenge from their 91-94 slip in Santa Rosa.
The Dragons,
meanwhile, also head north to face the Saigon Heat at the CIS Arena on
Saturday, March 10.
Box
Scores:
Westports
Malaysia Dragons (90) – Eversley 36, Munzon 19, Kuek 14, Purdy 11, Davis 9,
Wong 1, Ng 0, Ting 0, Heng 0, Chin 0
San
Miguel Alab Pilipinas (89) – Balkman 33, Brownlee 25, Parks 10, Domingo 7,
urboztondo 6, Raymundo 6, Maierhofer 2, Sumalinog 0, Celiz 0, Javelona 0, Hontiveros 0, Alabanza 0.
Quarter
Scores: 24-26,
44-47, 65-69, 90-89.
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