Norman Lee Benjamin Riego, ABS-CBN Sports
STA. ROSA, Laguna – Another day, another place, but it was the same result for Alab Pilipinas against league-leading Hong Kong.
Lo Domingo and James Hughes both had double-doubles, but their two-man show was easily overcome by the balanced Eastern Long Lions in a 83-61 rout on Sunday at the Sta. Rosa Multipurpose Complex.
Hong Kong is now a dominant 3-0 against the Filipinos in the 2016-2017 Asean Basketball League. This latest win moving them closer to the top-seed as well as homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.
Making things worse for the Philippines this time around, the difference between the two teams is more than 13 points – the Long Lions’ average margin of victory in their previous two meetings.
The league-leaders made sure of that and wasted no time in silencing the jam-packed home crowd with another strong start of 10-2.
Back-to-back hits got Alab within four, but Hong Kong went on a 14-6 tear to end the first quarter with the score in its favor, 24-12. The lead would not go lower than 15 for the remainder of the game.
Ray Parks Jr. wound up with only, for his standards, nine points, nine rebounds, and three assists.
Domingo finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, Hughes ended with 12 points and 13 rebounds, but they were the only bright spots in what turned out to be a third consecutive defeat for the Filipinos. At one time standing at 8-4, they have slipped and have kept slipping now at 9-9.
Those two for the Philippines were easily no match for the Long Lions who counted three players with at least 18 points led by Tyler Lamb with 24 markers. They also dominated in terms of assists, 20-8.
Now at 15-2, Hong Kong is assured of finishing in the top two at the end of the elimination round.
With another loss, Alab now have no chance for homecourt advantage in the playoffs. That advantage will belong to Hong Kong and Singapore.
Alab and Hong Kong meet again next Sunday in Davao.
This story was originally published on the ABS-CBN Sports website.