INQUIRER Sports

CITING HIS TEAM’S marked improvement, coach Louie Alas expects the Philippine Patriots to avenge their lone loss against the Singapore Slingers in the Asean Basketball League.

“[The players] promised a different game this time,” said Alas. “With the support of the crowd and the improvement of the boys, we have a good chance of beating them.”

The Slingers aim to stretch their unbeaten run to five even as injured Filipino import Al Vergara remains a doubtful starter in the Saturday 4 p.m. tussle at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

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But Alas said the Patriots still have to be wary of Singapore’s American imports Michael Le-Blanc and Kyle Jeffers.

“We have to be patient on the defensive end,” said Alas, who missed the team’s first two outings, including the Patriots’ 74-69 loss to the Slingers last Oct. 18.

Boosted by recruits Nonoy Baclao and Elmer Espiritu, the Patriots will aim for their first back-to-back wins after routing the Thailand Tigers, 74-61, on Oct. 25.

Vergara sustained a knee injury following a collision with Indonesia’s Faisal Julius Achmad in a match won by the Slingers, 96-72, Sunday.

“The doctor said the injury was not too serious, that the knee just got hit, [but] I don’t think I would be able to play,” said Vergara.