INQUIRER Sports

THE SINGAPORE SLINGERS leaned on American imports Michael LeBlanc and Kyle Jeffers to whip the Brunei Barracudas, 87-69, Sunday in the Asean Basketball League Invitational Championship at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

LeBlanc, who also suited up as an import for the Philippine-Harbour Centre team in the Seaba Champions Cup last year, paced the Slingers with 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

Jeffers added 15 points and 20 boards as the Slingers joined opening-day winner Philippine Patriots for the early lead.

Powered by Fil-Am team captain Rob Wainwright and import Brandon Powell, the Patriots crushed Indonesia Satria Muda BritAma, 76-69, in the season opener of the region?s first commercial league last Saturday.

The Barracudas, mentored by Filipino coach Bong Ramos, had ex-PBA cagers Kiko Adriano, Don Camaso and Leo Avenido as starters along with Americans Lonnie Jones and Mike Pilgrim.

Brunei, a soccer-playing nation, maximized the allowed number of reinforcements in its first stint in professional basketball.

Pilgrim shot a team-high 16 points, while Avenido collected 15 markers, eight rebounds and five assists.

The Slingers will host the Patriots on Sunday.

The scores:
SINGAPORE 87?LeBlanc 20, Jeffers 15, Wong 14, Vergara 10, Matialakan 10,
Hong 6, Oh 5, Ng 4, Khoo 3, Woon 0, Lim 0,

BRUNEI 69?Pilgrim 16, Avenido 15, Jones 13, Camaso 8, Adriano 7, Tan 7, Lim 3, Ho 0, Sim 0, Fong 0.
Quarters: 20-13, 38-37, 69-52, 87-69