Cebu’s Chris Sumalinog of San Miguel Alab Pilipinas drives to the basket against the Hong Kong defense. Contributed photo | Alex B. Tan
Cebu City, Philippines — The San Miguel Alab Pilipinas are already focused on Game 2 after shockingly losing the quarterfinals series opener to Hong Kong Eastern in the ASEAN Basketball League last Friday, March 29, 2019, over at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City.
Alab led by as many as 15 points but sputtered down the stretch, allowing Hong Kong to come from behind and take Game 1, 90-88.
Alab must now head to the enemy’s territory for Game 2 on Wednesday, April 3, to try and get a win to equalize the series and send it to a deciding Game 3, back here in the Philippines.
Cebuano wingman Chris Sumalinog, in an exclusive with Cebu Daily News, shared that Hong Kong just wanted Game 1 more than them.
Read related story: Champs in trouble: Alab Pilipinas in the brink of elimination after loss to HK in Cebu
“In a playoff best-of-three series, both teams are expected to bring their A-games. Unfortunately, Hong Kong wanted it more than us,” said the product of Don Bosco.
“But we will learn from that game. Earlier in practice, we watched the game again as a team and pointed out the things that needed to be addressed and corrected. Everybody’s focus now is shifted for Game 2,” he added.
In spite of the disappointing loss, Sumalinog added that the time to hang their heads is not now.
“At this point of the season, there’s no room for negativity. We remain positive no matter what. We lose, we learn and we move on together as a team,” Sumalinog said.
The former Ateneo Blue Eagle also remarked that they will still try to speed up the game if the opportunity presents itself. If not, then they go to their money-makers down low in world imports Renaldo Balkman and PJ Ramos.
“We will still make the game fast if there’s an opportunity. If there’s none, we will take advantage of our strength and size down the painted area.” /bmjo