Patriots face acid test vs Singapore Slingers

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Patriots play their second game today but coach Louie Alas is already telling his boys that their game against the Singapore Slingers is the biggest test in their title-retention bid in the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) Season 2 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

For one, the Slingers are endowed with two hard-working imports in Marcus Skinner and Kyle Jeffers whose comfort zone is the Patriots’ weakest point.

“Our game against the Slingers will be our acid test defensively since they have two imports who are very tricky in the shaded lane. They are also good from the perimeter so this will a big challenge to us,” said Alas.

While Anthony Johnson is expected to dish out his usual numbers for the team co-owned by Harbour Centre’s Mikee Romero and Tony Boy Cojuangco, Alas is hoping that Donald Little– the team’s other import– will play with more intensity and confidence, especially in the shaded lane.

“Little did OK in our first game but he has to be more aggressive if we have to win this game,” said Romero. “We have to play with more passion.”

The 6-foot-10 Little had 11 points and eight rebounds in the team’s 71-62 win over the Brunei Barracudas last Sunday while Anthony, a veteran PBA import, logged in 24 points and 12 boards.

The Slingers also opened their title bid on a high note, stunning last year’s runner-up Satria Muda BritAma of Indonesia, 94-93, in a game where Jeffers and Skinner produced double-double efforts.

Both Jeffers and Skinner finished with 19 points and had 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively.

While Alas is confident that his locals, led by JunJun Cabatu, Erwin Sta. Maria and Chito Jaime, can match up well with Singapore’s locals and two Filipino imports in Al Vergara and Leo Avenido, he said they, too, also have to step up defensively.

“They have to help each other well inside, so communication is also important,” added Alas who is expected to task veteran JP Alcaraz and Egay Billiones to man Avenido in the hope of limiting his production.

Avenido exploded for 20 points spiked by five triples while Vergara, who has been with the Slingers the past two years, wound up with 17 points.