INQUIRER Sports

NEW RECRUITS NONOY BACLAO and Elmer Espiritu may be up for another tough defensive task when the Philippine Patriots clash with the visiting Brunei Barracudas in the Asean Basketball League Saturday.

Patriots coach Louie Alas said Brunei’s two towering imports rank high among his main concerns against the Barracudas, who are also reinforced by three former PBA players and mentored by Filipino coach Bong Ramos.

“That’s why we really need Baclao and Elmer to step up,” said Alas. “They have a good sense of timing, so they can help [Patriots import Jason Dixon] man the shaded lane.”

The Patriots, sharing second place with Indonesia Satria Muda BritAma at 2-1, shoot for their first back-to-back victories at 4 p.m. at the FilOil-Flying V Arena.

Ateneo’s Baclao and University of the East’s Espiritu debuted with a combined 15 points, nine blocks and eight rebounds in the Patriots’ 74-61 triumph over the Thailand Tigers last Sunday.

“Their performance was impressive, their defensive stops really spelled the difference,” Alas said after the Patriots’ young shot-blocking pair played pivotal roles just weeks after battling it out in the UAAP Finals.

Alas also expects the Patriots to apply more defensive muscle against the Barracudas’ 6-foot-9 Michael Pilgrim and seven-footer Lonnie Jones.

The two American imports teamed up for 33 points, while former PBA cager Leo Avenido fired 20 markers in the Barracudas’ 82-80 setback against the unbeaten Singapore Slingers last Saturday.

“I’m happy that the team is improving,” Ramos said in an interview with the Brunei Times. “We just have to continue building on it.”

“We will have to try to bounce back against the Patriots,” the 25-year-old Pilgrim added after the Barracudas slipped to 1-3.