AirAsia PH Patriots eye win No. 13 vs Cobras

BANGKOK—Unbeaten on the road, the AirAsia Philippine Patriots face a team that plays best at home.

The Bangkok Cobras, deadly in front of the home crowd, is expected to pull all stops to slow down the streaking Patriots in the Asean Basketball League (ABL) today at the Chulalongkorn University here.

But the Patriots’ latest string of five victories, not to mention their blowout wins against the Cobras in two previous meetings in Manila, could weigh heavily on the Thai team.

“We expect them to come out stronger but we have a deeper bench,” said speedy point guard Warren Ybañez. “We’re also playing at a very high level that is hard to top.”

Ybañez has a point. After an ugly encounter with the San Miguel Beermen that ended in tumult and defeat exactly a month ago, the Patriots have rattled off five straight wins.

The Beermen inflicted the Patriots’ only losses in their league-leading 12-2 record.

“It’s good to be confident, but not too confident,” said veteran swingman Francis Adriano.

Though the Cobras (5-8) are reeling from back-to-back losses, the second to the Indonesia Warriors, 74-67, the Patriots cannot count them out.

Pushed to the corner, the Cobras could spit venom with paralyzing results as seen in their recent homecourt games. They won over the Singapore Slingers, 79-74, and the Westport Malaysia Dragons, 85-81, at home.

The Patriots’ support cast for Anthony Johnson, who averages 24.3 points per game, and Nakiea Miller, the league’s present top blocker (2.64 bpg), runs deep with local players Al Vergara, Aldrech Ramos, Ardy Larong, Jonathan Fernandez, Angelus Raymundo, Eddie Laure, Rob Wainwright, Reed Juntilla, Ybanez and Adriano always on call.

The Patriots won by 28 points over the Cobras in the season opener in Manila before posting an 80-72 victory on Feb. 26.