INQUIRER Sports

THE PHILIPPINE PATRIOTS RELIED ON another strong defensive effort to pull away from a tight contest and forge a 77-61 triumph over the Thailand Tigers Tuesday in the Asean Basketball League at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

A full-court pressure press allowed the Patriots to hold down the Tigers to just five points in the first five minutes of the fourth period and scamper away with a 64-48 lead after a tight battle in the first three quarters.

?Defensively, we did a great job in the last five games,? said coach Louie Alas after his Patriots streaked to their fifth straight win for a league-best 6-1 record. ?We?ve limited our opponents to less than 70 points.?

Import Jason Dixon came through with his third straight double-double production of 19 points and 14 rebounds on top of three blocks, highlighted by a swat on the dunk attempt of Thailand import Chaz Twan Briggs late in the final period.

Elmer Espiritu added 10 points, including a couple of key baskets in the Patriots? fourth-quarter run.

The Patriots took leads of no more than seven points in the first three quarters, before a 17-5 surge at the start of the fourth period stretched the gap from 47-43 to 64-48.

?Thailand is no pushover and their import Briggs really knows the game,? said Alas.

The Tigers, who also bowed to the Patriots in their first encounter, 74-61, last Oct. 25, remained at the cellar at 2-6.

Briggs led the Tigers with 18 points but was held to only six in the final two quarters. He grabbed a game-high 22 rebounds, while Attaporn Lertmalaiporn shot 17 markers.

The Patriots, who recorded the longest winning streak yet in the six-nation league, will shoot for their sixth straight win against Indonesia Satria Muda BritAma on Saturday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The scores:
PHILIPPINES 77?Dixon 19, Espiritu 10, Powell 9, Baclao 8, Daa 8, Ybañez 7, Acuña 5, Alcaraz 4, Gaco 3, Wainwright 2, Sta. Maria 2, Baguion 0.

THAILAND 61?Briggs 18, Lertmalaiporn 17, Kruatiwa 9, Nwankwo 7, Bolocon 7, Ricafuente 3, Doruelo 0, Piroon 0, Ruankum 0, Kaedum 0.
Quarters: 15-13, 31-26, 47-43, 77-61