INQUIRER Sports

THE PHILIPPINE PATRIOTS set out to ride another strong defensive effort in their bid to grab a share of the lead Saturday in the Asean Basketball League.

?Our success depends largely on how we carry out our defense,? said Patriots coach Louie Alas. ?If we can play good defense, I?m sure our offense will run smoothly.?

The Patriots will forge a tie for the top spot with the idle Singapore Slingers at 5-1 if they roll to their fourth straight victory against the visiting Indonesia Satria Muda BritAma.

Gametime between the Patriots and Satria Muda BritAma is 4 p.m. at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan. Admission is free.

The Patriots pulled off a highly physical 75-67 triumph against Satria Muda BritAma in the Oct. 10 kickoff of the region?s fledgling home-and-away club tournament in Jakarta.

?Crowd support will be a big factor, especially now that we?re playing in our own turf,? said Alas. ?But again, our success will depend on how we play defensively.?

Jason Dixon and Brandon Powell expect another tough encounter after the two American imports fueled a late rally to lift the Patriots, 73-63, against the Kuala Lumpur Dragons in the Malaysian capital last Sunday.

The 6-foot-10 Dixon delivered his best performance yet by burying 17 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in that match.

Alas also expects his young cagers Nonoy Baclao of UAAP champion Ateneo and University of the East?s Elmer Espiritu to step up anew along with veteran guards Froilan Baguion and Warren Ybañez.

?We have to play smart and aggressive to win,? said Alas.

The Indonesians, running third at 3-3, have been working behind American imports Alexander Hartman and Nakiea Miller and Filipino import Rensy Bajar.

But aside from avenging their loss against the Patriots, the Indonesians aim to rebound from an embarrassing meltdown in their last outing against the Slingers.

The Indonesians blew a 10-point lead in the final three minutes for a heartbreaking 61-59 home-court loss to the Slingers last Saturday.