Zamboanga misses ABL postseason as Singapore takes last semis spot

Kentrell Barkley helped Singapore slam the door on Zamboanga's playoff hopes. ABL (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY—Zamboanga failed to clinch a spot in the ABL Invitational semifinals after Singapore pulled off a 97-87 win in their virtual wildcard game on Thursday night at the Nguyen Du Stadium in Ho Chi Minh.

The Slingers withstood a gallant stand from the Valientes after going on a 10-0 run following Jeremy Arthur's layup to start the fourth quarter which cut the former's lead down to three to up the gap back to 13 and never looked back from there.

Kentrell Barkley exploded for 41 points, five rebounds, five assists, and one steal, while Chanceler Gettys added 24 points, 18 rebounds, six assists, one block, and two steals for Singapore, which finished its elimination round campaign at 9-5.

Renaldo Balkman tallied 25 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, four steals, and one block, while Mario Chalmers added 19 points, three rebounds, eight assists, and four steals for Zamboanga, which dropped to 7-7.

Had the Valientes won which could have forced a tie for fourth at 8-6, they would have made the semis instead due to them sweeping the Slingers in their season series.

In the nightcap, Hong Kong Eastern stunned NS Matrix, 73-62, to book its own spot in the Final 4.

CJ McLaughlin led the now 9-4 Eastern squad, which was in control of the game from start to finish, with 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting and 17 rebounds, while Dominic Roberts added 16 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block.

Wong Yi-Hou put up 20 points and three steals, while Tevin Glass added 13 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and one steal for the Jeff Viernes-coached NS Matrix club, which fell to second place at 10-4.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno