Patriots gun for third in row vs KL Dragon

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Patriots try to make it three-in-a-row when they collide against a struggling Kuala Lumpur Dragons side as action in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) resumes today at the MABA Stadium in Malaysia.

Following their impressive home win over the erstwhile unbeaten Singapore Slingers, the Patriots are installed as heavy favorites in their 5 p.m. duel with the Dragons, who are still reeling from their shocking defeat to Thailand.

Drawing a stellar performance from Elmer Espiritu and American import Brandon Powell, the Patriots thumped the Slingers, 70-53, to improve their record to 3-1 - which is good enough for solo second spot.

Espiritu, the former University of the East standout, sizzled with seven points – all of them he buried in the final quarter while Powell scored team-high 14 points to help the Patriots avenge their 74-69 defeat to the Slingers last Oct. 18.

Another win by the Patriots, co-owned by Harbour Centre CEO Dr. Mikee Romero and businessman Tony Boy Cojuangco, will also enable them to tie the Slingers on top.

Despite their two-game winning run, the Patriots’ multi-titled coach Louie Alas doesn’t want his boys to fall into a false sense of security especially that the Dragons are raring to bounce back from an 88-71 loss to the Thailand Tigers last Monday at the Nimibutr National Stadium in Thailand. 

“That’s what I told the boys. We should continue our aggressiveness because it’s more dangerous facing a team which is coming from a loss,” said Alas, who will miss big man Jerwin Gaco due to flu.

Playmaker Froilan Baguion is also a doubtful starter owing to his recurring knee injury but Alas said he has included in the lineup for the first time John Paul Alacaraz, a former Letran hotshot and PBL veteran, to help Warren Ybanez quarterback the team’s offense.

Ateneo star Nonoy Baclao and import Jason Dixon are expected to step up big time to supply the firepower the Patriots will be needing in the absence of their sick and injured teammates.

Despite the injury woes, Alas plans to give the Dragons a tough challenge by neutralizing their vaunted transition attacks.

“I saw the video (Dragons’ game against Thailand) yesterday and they are a quick team,” said Alas. “So we plan to put pressure defense to stop their fast break plays.” 

The Dragons will be backstopped by Filipino Roel Hugnatan and former UE stalwarts Rudy Lingganay and Fhadzmir Bandaying, who scored 24 points in a losing cause against Thailand last time out in the six-nation league that enforces a home-and-away format.

The Dragons, who tote a 2-3 record, are expected to bank heavily on Chris Daniel Kuete Lontchi, who saw action for the Cameroon in the 2007 FIBA Africa Championship for Men.

“The post plays of their imports and Hugnatan are also effective. So the key here is our individual defense,” said Alas, who expects Erwin Sta. Maria, Warren Ybanez and University of Santo Tomas’ Khazim Mirza to be at the forefront of the Patriots assault.