Slammers foil Patriots, near ABL crown

MANILA, Philippines - The Chang Thailand Slammers held Gabe Freeman scoreless in the last quarter as they frustrated the AirAsia Philippine Patriots, 66-58, last night and moved a win away from winning the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) Season 2 crown in Bangkok, Thailand.

Chris Kuete topscored for the Slammers with 18 points while Filipino import Ardy Larong hit a triple early in the fourth that shattered a 49-all count and sparked the hosts’ decisive 11-0 run to dispose of the defending champions.

The Slammers, who beat the Filipinos in two of their three meetings in the elims, also pounced on the ouster of Freeman, who fouled out with still two minutes left to take the opener of their best-of-three series.

The Slammers, who finished last in the six-nation tournament last year, goes for the crown on Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Freeman played true to form in the early going, scoring nine points in the first period but three quick fouls late in the second slowed down the prolific import.

He picked up his fourth foul early in the third then fouled out with more than two minutes left, paving the way for the Slammers’ victory.

Larong, who finished with 12 points, buried his second triple early in the fourth while Jason Dixon and Kuefe added four points apiece to anchor the Slammers’ strong finishing kick.

“It was an intensifying game. All our game plans worked. We’ve been working on Dixon and Kuete since our series with the Singapore Slingers and they delivered,” said Thai coach Singhenese Tongkiat.

Dixon actually struggled in the first half but regained his bearing in the second where he outplayed the Patriots other import Steve Thomas. He finished with 14 markers and 13 rebounds.

The Slammers also limited the Patriots to just two field goals in the first eight minutes of the final period.

Freeman still led the Patriots with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Thomas was held to just 11 points.

Even former Patriot guard Froilan Baguion made key baskets for the Slammers before winding up with 11 points.