By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA—Mono Vampire strengthened its hold of the top spot in the ABL standings after pipping Alab Pilipinas, 102-89, at the Caloocan Sports Complex on Sunday night.
A solid first half and an even more impressive fourth quarter were all Mono needed to repulse Alab on the road to widen their lead for first place in the league table.
Mono took control of the first 20 minutes of the game and raced to a 52-39 lead at halftime.
Alab, however, made things interesting in the third quarter, cutting the lead down to just five, 62-57, with 2:53 remaining in the period.
Mono regained momentum later in the third and pulled away for good in the final frame.
Mono's two Mikes, Mike Singletary and Mike Morrison, each tallied 23 points as their team moved up to 9-3, 1.5 games above Fubon (8-5), which moved up to second place following Alab's loss.
Prince Williams tallied 23 markers, three rebounds, two assists, and three steals, while Sam Deguara added 18 markers, 10 boards, one dime, one swipe, and one block for Alab, who fell to third place at 6-4.
Both teams will meet one more time this season on Thursday night at the Stadium 29 in Nonthaburi.
Macau Black Bears 97 Eastern 80
Earlier in the day at The Venetian Macao, the Black Bears romped the Eastern Long Lions, 97-80.
The Black Bears slowly pulled away for good in the second and the third quarters after the Long Lions had the upper hand at the end of the first period.
Mikh McKinney erupted for 30 points with three rebounds, six assists, and two blocks for the Black Bears, who reclaimed solo sixth place in the standings at 6-7.
Kenneth Manigault added 27 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists, three steals, and one block, while Jasonn Hannibal chipped in 10 points, 13 rebounds, one block, and one steal.
Brandis Baley-Ross fired 25 markers with two boards, four dimes, and one steal, while Brandon Costner contributed 14 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists for the Long Lions, who fell to ninth place at 3-6.
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