Defending ASEAN Basketball League champion San Miguel-Alab Pilipinas starts its title defense this Sunday right at home in the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna against the CLS Knights of Indonesia.
The game will air live on ABS-CBN S+A and S+A HD at 8 p.m.
Fil-Am cager Caelan Tiongson, who played for Chinese powerhouse Chong Son Kung Fu last season, and new World Import PJ Ramos will have their Alab debut alongside back-to-back ABL Local MVP Bobby Ray Parks Jr. and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Renaldo Balkman.
The addition of Tiongson bodes well for Alab as this solidifies their forward depth, after putting up 11.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while wearing the colors of the Kung Fu. Analysts are looking at the 6’5” forward to ably fill in the shoes left behind by do-it-all World Import Justin Brownlee.
Aside from Tiongson, Alab’s other new players to look out for in the team’s title defense are the likes of former De La Salle Green Archers Prince Rivero and Thomas Torres, Ethan Alvano, and Brandon Rosser, brother of pro baller Matt Ganuelas-Rosser.
Meanwhile, the CLS Knights will be trying to stop their two-game skid after winning their opening assignment, and spoil the debut of the new Alab, which is still under the tutelage of the legendary Jimmy Alapag. Expected to lead the Knights against the San Miguel squad are Maxie Esho, Montay Brandon, and Indonesian-American point guard Brandon Jawato, who has been making waves in his debut season averaging 14.8 points and 4.0 assists.
Other contending teams in the league include last season’s finalists, Mono Vampire, holdovers from last season Formosa Dreamers, Saigon Heat, Malaysia Dragons, Singapore Slingers, and Hong Kong Eastern, and newcomers Macau Black Bears and Zhuhai Wolf Warriors.
Don’t miss Alab Pilipinas’ journey to back-to-back championships as it opens its ABL season and title defense this Sunday (December 9) against the CLS Knights LIVE on S+A and S+A HD at 8 pm. For more information and stories, visit ABS-CBN’s sports hub sports.abs-cbn.com and follow @ABSCBNSports on Facebook and Twitter.
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