INQUIRER Sports

BRUNEI? Filipino coach Bong Ramos was apologetic after his Brunei Barracudas shocked the heavily favored Philippine Patriots, 95-70, Sunday in the Asean Basketball League at the Brunei Indoor Stadium here.

The Filipino-laden Barracudas, mired in the middle of the standings, halted the Patriots? six-game winning streak behind a scoring splurge in the second half.

?I?m sorry, but I am a Filipino and I know their weakness,? Ramos, the mentor of Brunei?s first professional basketball team, said after the Barracudas dealt the league-leading Patriots their worst beating in nine outings.

Brunei?s Filipino imports Don Camaso, Leo Avenido and Kiko Adriano fueled a fourth-quarter binge that saw the Barracudas outscore the Patriots, 22-6, in an eight-minute stretch for an 89-66 spread.

Coach Louie Alas admitted that the absence of Nonoy Baclao and Elmer Espiritu, the Patriots? top two defensive players, turned out to be a key factor.

?We missed their defensive intensity,? said Alas, whose Patriots still remained on top of the six-nation tournament at 7-2.

Baclao played his last varsity game with Ateneo in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League finals last Sunday while Espiritu skipped the game due to an injury.

American import Reggie Larry scored 20 points?including seven during the Barracudas? 14-0 run at the start of the third period?on top of eight rebounds, six assists and three steals.

?We played lousy,? added Alas. ?It?s a wakeup call [and a reminder] that any team can beat us.?

Michael Pilgrim also shot 20 points as the Barracudas picked up their first back-to-back wins to share fourth place with the Kuala Lumpur Dragons at 4-5.

Camaso knocked in 15 of his 18 points from beyond the arc, while Avenido also finished with 18. Adriano chipped in 13 points.

Jason Dixon paced the Patriots with 14 points and 10 rebounds, but Brandon Powell, the team?s second American import, finished with only three points on 1-of-10 shooting.

The Patriots try to rebound against the Dragons on Saturday before meeting the Barracudas again on Dec. 21. Both games will be played at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

The scores:
BRUNEI 95?Pilgrim 20, Larry 20, Camaso 18, Avenido 18, Adriano 13, Tan 6, Ho 0, Lim 0.

PHILIPPINES 70?Dixon 14, Daa 10, Wainwright 8, Gaco 8, Acuña 8, Alcaraz 7, Sta. Maria 6, Ybañez 4, Powell 3, Baguion 2, Coronel 0, Rañeses 0.

Quarters: 20-21, 43-47, 67-59, 95-70