MANILA -- Alab Pilipinas took home the Asean Basketball League (ABL) title after a 102-92 victory over Mono Vampire in the deciding Game 5 of the best-of-five finals at the Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Santa Rosa City, Laguna on Wednesday night.
Alab stifled the Vampires early on, opening a 27-14 first quarter lead.
Mono somehow got its rhythm in the second quarter, scoring 31 points in the period as the lead was slightly chipped down to nine, 54-45, by halftime.
Alab, however, shut down Mono in the third period by scoring a 28-16 burst to blow the game wide open and never looked back.
Renaldo Balkman tallied 32 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals, while Justin Brownlee came close to a triple-double with 24 points, 12 boards, and nine dimes with one steal and one block for Alab, which won its first ABL title in its second season of stay.
Lawrence Domingo went a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and 3-for-3 from the free throw line for nine markers.
Mono's Mike Singletary made 32 markers of his own with eight caroms, four assists, and one steal, but he had eight turnovers.
Box Scores:
Alab Pilipinas 102-Balkman 32, Brownlee 24, Parks 13, Raymundo 9, Domingo 9, Javelona 7, Urbiztondo 5, Hontiveros 3, Alabanza 0, Sumalinog 0, Celiz 0, Maierhofer 0
Mono Vampire 92-Singletary 32, Deguara 24, Zamar 19, Brickman 9, Chanthachon 6, Apiromvilaichai 2, Sunthonsiri 0, Klahan 0, Ananti 0, Phuangla 0, Khukhandhin 0, Boonyai 0
Quarterscores: 27-14, 54-45, 82-61, 102-92 (PNA)
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