PHL Patriots top standings, dispatch Singapore Slingers
The AirAsia Philippine Patriots jumped to the top of the Asean Basketball League standings Sunday, after keeping the Singapore Slingers at arm's length long enough to pick up the 80-75 win at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The victory made the Patriots the only team to be dealt just a single loss, as the squad won their fourth straight to improve to 5-1.
The win did not come easy, however.
Coach Glenn Capacio's wards seemed dominant early, doubling up on the Slingers' output, 18-9 near the end of the first quarter, but the Slingers reversed the table on the Patriots, holding the Philippine team to just 13 points in the second period while scoring 25 themselves.
The display of defensive might resulted in the Patriots missing all but one of their last seven shots in the first half's final three minutes, allowing the Slingers to post a five-point lead, 36-31 at the break.
Luckily for the Philippines, back-to-back baskets by former FEU Tamaraw Aldrech Ramos helped stem the tide out of halftime, as his side closed to within a point, 38-37, a little over a minute gone by. A steal by Nakiea Miler then led to an Al Vergara basket, restoring the Patriots' lead.
The two sides then went back and forth until Eddie Laure had the misfortune to foul Wei Long Wong on a triple try, surrendering three freethrows. Wong made all three, helping Singapore squeak ahead by a point, 48-47, at the 4:17 mark of the third, but that turned out to be their last lead of the game as the Patriots simply took over.
Wong nailed another triple at 6:36 mark of the fourth off a Don Dulay assist to have his Slingers threaten at one down, 68-67, but the Patriots countered with six straight, squelching the final Singapore rally.
Anthony Johnson was solid as ever, finishing with 25 points, six boards, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 39 minutes. Al Vergara added another 14 while Angelus Raymundo chipped in 11.
Louis Graham played the entire affair, coming up with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, plus four dimes and five swats. Fil-Am Chris Canta also had 19, nine coming from triples.
Wei Long Wong also had 14 for Singapore, but needed 10 attempts.
The Patriots dominated the points in the paint category, 38-18, as the Slingers chose to take their chances from outside.
Singapore finished 8 of 19 from downtown, but that, coupled with 12 more foul shots than their opponents, still didn't lead to a victory for the Slingers, as the team slumped to 4-3.
The Philippine Patriots next play on February 18 against the Chang Thailand Slammers in Thailand, while the Singapore Slingers face-off against the Westports Malaysia Dragons the day after. - KBK, GMA News
The scores:
Phil. Patriots (80) - Johnson 26, Vergara 14, Raymundo 11, Miller 10, Ramos 9, Ybanez 4, Rodriguez 3, Larong 3, Wainwright 0, Fernandez 0, Laure 0, Juntilla 0
Singapore Slingers (75) - Canta 19, Graham 19, Wong 14, Little 10, Dulay 9, Khoo 4, Oh 0,
Quarter-scoring: 18-11, 31-36, 59-54, 80-75
Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/247815/sports/basketball/abl-phl-patriots-top-standings-dispatch-singapore-slingers
