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.

Admission is free.

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.