By Adrian Stewart Co

San Miguel Alab Pilipinas strengthened its hold atop the 2018-2019 ASEAN Basketball League after their 80-70 win over the Singapore Slingers at the OCBC Arena in Singapore.

Renaldo Balkman led the Philippine squad with 28 points, eight rebounds, and six assists; while Peter John Ramos added a double-double with 22 points and 17 rebounds.

The Philippines struggled early and found themselves down 21-18 in the first quarter and 35-33 at the half, before taking a 42-41 lead on a basket by Balkman.

Balkman and Ramos went to work and turned a 48-all deadlock to a 67-55 spread late in the third period on a three-pointer from Joshua Urbiztondo.

The Slingers attempted a run in the fourth quarter and trimmed the deficit to five but the Philippines earned back-to-back inside hits from Ramos and a triple from Balkman for an 80-68 lead with under a minute left in the game./ASC, WDJ