SAN Miguel Alab Pilipinas hobbled into the 2019 ASEAN Basketball League playoffs after falling to the Saigon Heat, 81-80, in its final elimination game of the season on Sunday at CIS Arena in Vietnam.
Trevon Hughes fired 24 points to go witheight assists, six rebounds, and four steals, capping his heroics with a free throw with five seconds remaining that sent defending champion Alab to a fourth straight defeat.
Kyle Barone added 22 points, 14 boards, and three blocks and his split from the line tied the game at 80 with 29 seconds left to play.
DeAngelo Hamilton chipped in a double-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and two rejections as the Heat clinched the fifth seed in the playoffs with their 14-12 record.
San Miguel Alab Pilipinas dropped to 18-8, but will head to the playoffs as the two-seed,putting it in a collision course with Hong Kong Eastern on Friday.
Renaldo Balkman returned to action and poured in 25 points, eight rebounds, and two assists, while Bobby Ray Parks added 16 points, two rebounds, and two assists, but his potential go-ahead layup in the last 22 seconds was blocked by Barone.
Brandon Rosser also returned to action for Alab with his 14 points and eight rebounds in the losing effort.
PJ Ramos sat out the game for the Philippine side.
The scores:
SAIGON HEAT 81 - Hughes 24, Barone 22, Hamilton 17, Tran 7, Dierker 6, Cilia 3, Young 2.
SAN MIGUEL ALAB PILIPINAS 80 -- Balkman 25, Parks 16, Rosser 14, Alvano 9, Sumalinog 6, Rivero 5, Urbiztondo 3, Javelona 2, Alabanza 0, Torres 0.
Quarters: 22-17, 42-38, 61-60, 81-80.
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