INQUIRER Sports

 W L
 Singapore 4 1
 Philippines 3 1
 Malaysia 2 2
 Indonesia 2 2
 Brunei 1 3
 Thailand 0 3

GAME TODAY
(MABA Stadium)
4 p.m.?KL Dragons vs RP Patriots

ELMER ESPIRITU provided the finishing touches that backed up Brandon Powell?s strong start as the Philippine Patriots snapped the Singapore Slingers? unbeaten run with a 70-53 blowout triumph in the Asean Basketball League Saturday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Espiritu buried all of his seven points in the last seven minutes to help the Patriots restrain the Slingers? second-half comeback with a 70-49 spread heading into the final minute.

The former University of the East standout, playing only his second game with the Patriots, also collected five rebounds and a couple of blocks.

?Elmer was our energizer when the Slingers rallied [within 50-42],? said coach Louie Alas after the Patriots dealt the undermanned Slingers their first loss in five outings. ?He provided the hustle at the defensive end, he blocked shots and made five straight points.?

The Patriots also drew strong performances from their American imports with Powell firing a team-high 14 points and Jason Dixon adding 12 markers and eight boards.

?We had only 11 turnovers and that spelled the difference,? said Alas of his Patriots, who clinched their first back-to-back wins for a second-best 3-1 record. ?We couldn?t gauge if we?re really that strong because they had a short rotation, but of course a win is a win.?

The Slingers, who dealt the Patriots? lone loss with a 74-69 decision last Oct. 18, had only eight in their lineup after two players contracted chicken pox.

?The Patriots made some changes, they?re not the same team when we played them in Singapore,? said the Slingers? Australian coach Frank Arsego, who commended Espiritu and Nonoy Baclao.

?They have good, young boys. I was pretty impressed there. They?re athletic, they move well and have good fundamentals.?

Singapore?s Filipino import Al Vergara, far from his optimal form due to a left knee injury, still wound up with 12 points but had seven turnovers.

?We were desperate,? said Arsego. ?The hardest thing was we had to play Al Vergara. If our backup guard didn?t contract chicken pox, he wouldn?t have played.?

Espiritu completed a three-point play and scored on a jumper to push the Patriots? lead back up at 55-43 after the Slingers rallied within 50-42 early in the fourth period.

Another Espiritu tip-in after a Powell slam dunk and an Erwin Sta. Maria triple gave the Patriots a 62-49 buffer.

The Scores:

Philippines 70?Powell 14,Dixon 12, Gaco 9, Wainwright 8, Espiritu 7, Baguion 6, Baclao 4, Sta. Maria 3, Acuña 3, Ybañez 2, Daa 2, Mirza 0.

Singapore 53?LeBlanc 16, Vergara 12, Jeffers 10, Ng 7, Pathman 4, Desmond 3, Wong 1, Hong 0.

Quarters: 22-8, 36-23, 50-39, 70-53