AirAsia up against tough field in ABL

BANGKOK – AirAsia Philippine coach Glen Capacio sees a wide-open race in the third season of the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League which fires off Jan. 14 with all teams capable of contending for the crown.

“It’s going to be a wide open race, all teams are strong,” said Capacio after watching the opening games of the “To Be Number One Basketball Challenge” Thursday here.

Some of the players, he said, are veterans of the recent Indonesia SEA Games and are very familiar with the Filipino brand of basketball.

“So that makes the coming ABL season more interesting,” said Capacio, who noted that some players of the other teams have once played for the Patriots, including Froilan Baguion and Junjun Cabatu who are now playing for San Miguel Beer.

Harold Sta Cruz and Ricky Ricafuente, who also suited up for the Patriots, are now playing for Indonesia while the Singapore Slingers have tapped former pro Donald Dulay and erstwhile Mapua cager Ian Mazo.

Former Adamson star Jerick Canada has also joined the Indonesia team.

Capacio, however, said the four-day tournament, a fund-raising event for the flood victims of Thailand, is not enough to gauge their strength right now.

“We haven’t played a tune-up game with our imports but I’m confident with the guys since they are veteran and can adjust to the system,” said Capacio.

The Patriots, co-owned by businessman Tony Boy Cojuangco and Harbour Centre president Mikee Romero, will have Nakiea Miller and Anthony Johnson as their imports.

Capacio said they have to put more premium on defense if they want to regain the title they lost to the Thais early this year.

“We have to control the boards for us to run and we also have to focus more on defense,” added Capacio whose boys are battling the Saigon Heat at presstime.