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ABL: Alab Pilipinas responds to coach's challenge in win over Saigon

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/03/05/abl-030417.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Val Acuna scored a career-high 23 points for Alab Pilipinas. <cite>Courtesy of the ABL</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA — Alab Pilipinas coach Mac Cuan had called out his players for their previous subpar performances. Fortunately, they responded well to his challenge, arresting a 2-game slide in the Asean Basketball League by squeezing out a 74-70 victory over the Saigon Heat at CIS Arena in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday.Val Acuña torched the hoop by shooting 7 of 12 from behind the arc to finish with a career-high 23 points.Providing additional firepower were import Sampson Carter and Lawrence Domingo who helped Alab get past the hump and avenge its 78-74 loss to Saigon.“We just had to dig deep. I challenged my players. I also adjusted with my starting lineup because the last time, my starters came out flat. I shuffled it a little bit and good thing, Acuña stepped up,” Cuan said in the <a href="http://aseanbasketballleague.com/news/val-acuna-shines-career-high-alab-stops-heat-break-drought">ABL</a>’s official website.Acuña&#x27;s brightest moment came when his triple gave Alab a 69-65 cushion under 3 minutes to go. That shot gave his team enough breathing space to hold off Saigon.“I’m just thankful for the trust and confidence my teammates are giving to me. I saw the shot clock winding down and I did not hesitate to take that shot,” Acuña said.Alab stormed to an 11-2 advantage at the onset of the game. Despite a series of comebacks by the Heat, the Philippine-based team manage to maintain a 12-point gap by the end of the half.But Saigon mounted a furious comeback as Moses Morgan fired 11 straight points to pull the Heat to within, 52-50, in the 3rd canto.“I just reminded them how we got the lead in the first half. It was by getting stops and playing defense. We forgot about that for a while but we got back at it, and we were able to hold them off,” Cuan said.“I just had to mix it up (defensively), going to a man and a zone to confuse them. I tried both to keep them guessing.”As a result, Alab hiked its overall record to 9-6. The Heat dropped to 5-9.Alab will next face the Westports Malaysia Dragons at home on Sunday at Santa Rosa Arena in Laguna.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Alab Pilipinas coach Mac Cuan had called out his players for their previous subpar performances. Fortunately, they responded to his challenge.

Alab Pilipinas coach Mac Cuan had called out his players for their previous subpar performances. Fortunately, they responded to his challenge.