Alab Pilipinas survives Hong Kong in nail-biter

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Jeremiah Gray delivered the game-winning block against Hong Kong Eastern’s Jon Siu’s game-winning trey attempt that helped end Alab Pilipinas’ road tour with a much-needed win, 77-76.

The victory was a big boost for the struggling Alab squad with things not going their way early in the season, including a couple of upsets.

Leading by 15 at the half, the Alab gunners found themselves in a shooting drought that enabled the foes to put up a fierce rally that provided a scare.

With 4:35 left in the final frame, Siu of Hong Kong drained back-to-back cold-blooded treys that put them in the lead for the first time in the game, 72-71.

The Alab squad then failed to connect on their first few attempts before Nick King sank a much-needed basket to put them ahead, 77-76.

Gray then put the icing on the cake as he soared high and swatted the Siu shot that would have crumbled Alab’s heart if it went in.