MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Christian Standhardinger hit timely buckets down the stretch to help the Hong Kong Eastern Sports Club survive Alab Pilipinas, 92-89, on Sunday, November 19, in the ASEAN Basketball League at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Standhardinger, who serves as the Heritage import, scored 6 straight points to give Hong Kong a 92-89 lead with 5 seconds left in the game. 

Josh Urbiztondo heaved a shot from half court for a potential game-tying triple for Alab but it rimmed out. 

Hong Kong led 90-86 with a little under 30 seconds left before Ray Parks Jr. completed an and-one play to bring Alab within one, 89-90, with 10 seconds remaining. 

However, Standhardinger’s short stab after proved to be what Hong Kong needed to start its title-retention bid on a high note. 

“If we would have played with the sense of urgency like we did in the second half in the first half, I thought the outcome could have been different,” said new Alab coach Jimmy Alapag.

After being down by as much as 15 in the second half, Alab regained its bearings and took a 74-73 lead midway the fourth quarter behind an 8-0 spurt. 

But Hong Kong answered with its own 14-5 run, highlighted by back-to-back blocks and back-to-back baskets from Ryan Moss, to lead 87-79. 

Standhardinger finished with team-highs of 26 points and 14 rebounds on top of 4 assists and 2 steals.

Hong Kong’s Marcus Elliot flirted with a triple-double after dropping 25 points, 9 assists and 8 boards while Tyler Lamb made his presence felt with 23 markers, 4 steals and 3 assists. 

Reggie Okosa paced Alab with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks while Ivan Johnson had 17 points and 15 rebounds. 

Parks added 17 for Pilipinas. 

Alab will face the Singapore Slingers on Wednesday, November 29 at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex. 

The Scores: 

Hong Kong (92): Standhardinger 26, Elliot 25, Lamb 23, Okosa 10, Xu 4, Lee 2, Tang 2.

Alab (89): Okosa 28, Johnson 17, Parks 17, Urbiztondo 14, Sumalinog 9, Domingo 2, Maeirhofer 2. 

Quarter scores: 24-18, 54-43, 73-68, 92-89.

 – Rappler.com