Patriots trip Slingers, solidify lead

MANILA, Philippines - The AirAsia Philippine Patriots firmed up their grip on the lead in the third AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League as they outlasted Jobstreet.com Singapore Slingers, 80-75, yesterday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The Patriots blew a nine-point lead at the start of the payoff period but regained their bearings with Nakiea Miller and Anthony Johnson hitting clutch baskets in a 10-3 blast that gave them a fresh 78-70 cushion with 1:30 left.

It was the fourth straight victory and 5-1 overall for the team co-owned by Mikee Romero and Tony Boy Cojuangco, enjoying a one-game lead ahead of,Westports Malaysia Dragons and San Miguel Beermen. The Slingers absorbed their second straight loss for 4-3.

The Patriots and the Slingers engaged in battle of spurts throughout, with the Filipino team taking the lead and the Singaporean club clawing its way back and so on.

Al Vergara, a former Slinger import now with the Patriots, gave Phl a 66-59 lead with 8:39 left but the hosts, banking on their three-point shooting, fought back to within one, 67-68, still 6:36 left.

Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer picked up its second straight triumph for 4-2 overall with an 85-62 rout of Saigon Heat over at the Tan Binh Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City Saturday night.

The Beermen cranked it up in the second half to tear the game apart, with DJ Johnson presiding over a 29-15 third-quarter exchange that put them safely ahead, 67-49. Not easing up on the attack, the Beermen widened the gap to 24 points, at 83-59 in the fourth.

Johnson chalked up his third double-double output of the season (24 points and 12 rebounds, along with five steals), while Doug Thomas had a field day at the rim, logging 18 markers highlighted by five slam dunks, to go with 10 boards.

Coach Bobby Parks’ locals responded to his challenge to deliver, with Leo Avenido chipping in 16 and Allan Mangahas adding 11.

Jonathan Jones (26 points) and Julius Hodge (23 markers and 13 caroms) took scoring cudgels for the 0-6 Heat.