INQUIRER Sports

THE PHILIPPINE PATRIOTS TRY TO SUSTAIN their streak in the Asean Basketball League when they host the Thailand Tigers Tuesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

?Our biggest enemy is complacency,? said Patriots coach Louie Alas, whose boys will be coming off a 10-day break when they meet the Tigers at 4 p.m.

?As I said, anybody can beat anybody here,? he added. ?We have to remain focused so we can sustain our own momentum.?

The Patriots claimed the solo lead in the six-team championship at 5-1 after the Singapore Slingers absorbed their second setback in seven games last week against the Kuala Lumpur Dragons, 84-74.

The Patriots, who inflicted the first loss on the Slingers recently, are going for their fifth straight win in the fledgling regional club league.

The Patriots blasted the cellar-dwelling Tigers with a 74-61 homecourt victory in their first encounter last Oct. 25.

But Alas pointed to the tough challenge the Tigers put up against several opponents the past weeks, including a slim 77-71 loss to the favored Indonesia Satria Muda BritAma in Jakarta last Saturday.

The Tigers, who hold a 2-5 record, have Filipino Axel Doruelo, Ricky Ricafuente and Glenn Bolocon as imports.

Alas said the marked improvement in Jason Dixon?s numbers in the last couple of games, along with the consistent efforts of American Brandon Powell and locals Froilan Baguion, Warren Ybañez, Nonoy Baclao and Elmer Espiritu, had been a key factor in the Patriots? recent good fortune.

?Jason is starting to get in game-shape condition,? said Alas.