By Adrian Stewart Co

San Miguel Alab Pilipinas beat the Hong Kong Eastern basketball team, 96-81, in the 2018-2019 ASEAN Basketball League over the weekend at the Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong’s Wan Chai area.

Renaldo Balkman led the way with 32 points, while Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. added 23 markers and seven rebounds for the defending champions.

Peter John Ramos fell short of a triple-double as he finished with 11 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists for the Philippines, which has won all of its three matches against Hong Kong.

Holding to a slim 73-71 lead after three quarters, the Philippines started strong in the fourth frame behind Ethan Alvano, Lorenzo Domingo, and Joshua Urbiztondo with an 88-76 lead.

Hong Kong tried its best to make it a ball game but could not cut the deficit down to single digits before Balkman and Ramos combined for late conversions to increase the lead to 15 points./ASC, WDJ