Alab sizzles in OT to take ABL Finals opener vs Mono

By Ivan Saldajeno

STA. ROSA, Laguna--Alab Pilipinas broke loose in overtime to take a 143-130 win over Mono Vampire in Game 1 of the ABL Finals at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex on Sunday night.

In a game full of new league records, Alab went ablaze in the extra five minutes, dropping an ABL finals record 22 points in the free basketball session to secure the first win of the best-of-five series.

However, it was not possible without some luck down the stretch.

Losing a nine-point mid-fourth-quarter lead and down two, 119-121, with 11.7 seconds left in regulation, Justin Brownlee got a chance to tie the game after fishing Sam Deguara's fifth foul.

However, Brownlee, who is usually steady from the free throw line, missed the first of his two free throws.

Brownlee intentionally missed the second free throw, but the ball luckily landed back at his hands.

Brownlee missed his follow-up attempt, but Renaldo Balkman placed the ball back in with 1.3 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

Brownlee took over from there, and he set up a record of his own.

Brownlee dropped an ABL Finals record 46 points, which also tied the overall single-game record set by Balkman earlier in the season. He also had 11 rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and one block.

Balkman added 39 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals.

Ray-Ray Parks made 27 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block.

Mike Singletary tallied 42 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and one steal for Mono.

The 143 points Alab made on Sunday night broke the erstwhile single-game scoring record of 126 points made by Alab in Davao City against Saigon on March 15.

[Related Story: Alab PH nears ABL playoffs, outshoots Saigon in Davao shootout]

Mono also breached the old single-game scoring record, easily making this the highest-scoring game in the history of the ABL.

Game 2 is set on Wednesday night at the said venue.

Box Scores:

Alab Pilipinas 143-Brownlee 46, Balkman 39, Parks 27, Domingo 14, Raymundo 9, Javelona 8, Urbiztondo 0, Sumalinog 0, Hontiveros 0, Alabanza 0, Celiz 0

Mono Vampire 130-Singletary 42, Zamar 25, Deguara 21, Brickman 15, Apiromvilaichai 14, Chanthachon 7, Klahan 6, Boonyai 0, Phuangla 0, Khukhandhin 0

Quarterscores: 26-32, 59-58, 87-87, 121-121, 143-130

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno