Patriots nip Slingers in double OT

SINGAPORE—The Philippine Patriots had pulled off victories even with only one import in the AirAsia Asean Basketball League.

This time, the Patriots managed even with none in the crucial stretch as Egay Billones lifted the all-Filipino crew to a thrilling 87-85 double overtime triumph against the Singapore Slingers Sunday night at the Singapore Indoor Stadium here.

The Patriots completed a remarkable turnaround from a 19-point deficit, 10-29, even with American imports Donald 

Little fouling out and Rasheim Wright failing to finish the game due to an injury late in the last quarter that cut short his impressive debut.

Billones knocked in all his nine points in the second extra period, including a jumper with 1:59 left that gave the defending champions an 82-80 advantage.

Three free throws in the dwindling seconds capped the heroics of Billones, who picked up where Allan Salangsang and Junjun Cabatu left off in the first extension.

“It was a gallant stand,” said Patriots coach Louie Alas.

The Patriots, who recovered from an embarrassing 71-56 rout by the Brunei Barracudas last week, kept the solo lead in the six-nation tournament with a 6-1 record.

Wright, an American who also plays for Jordan as a naturalized player, joined the Patriots only last Wednesday as a replacement for the injury-plagued Anthony Johnson.

But Wright’s big debut of 22 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals ended with a hamstring injury  in the fourth quarter.

The scores:
PHILIPPINES 87—Wright 22, Salangsang 12, Jaime 11, Little 10, Cabatu 10, Billones 9, Sta. Cruz 8, Ybañez 5,  Fernandez 0, Maliksi 0. 
SINGAPORE 85—Avenido 36, Skinner 29, Jeffers 12, Khoo 4, Matialakan 2, Oh 2, Vergara 0, Wong 0, Lim 0.
Quarters: 10-24, 26-40, 49-53, 66-66 (reg.) 75-75 (1OT), 87-85 (2OT)