Patriots try to enter s’finals on high note
ALTHOUGH assured of the No. 2 spot, the AirAsia Philippine Patriots hope to bring back their imposing form in the Asean Basketball League tonight.
The Patriots wrap up their elimination run bidding for a 16th victory against the Chang Thailand Slammers at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. in Manila) at the Thai Japanese Association Gym in Bangkok.
“We’re already in the semifinals, but I’m still motivating them,” said Patriots coach Glenn Capacio. “We really have to win. I don’t want us to go into the semis off a loss.”
The Patriots try to clinch a second straight win even with import Anthony Johnson still recuperating from a groin injury.
The Patriots own a 15-5 record behind league-leading San Miguel Beer, which finished its elimination stint with a 17-4 slate.
As the top two seeds, both Philippine squads will have homecourt advantage in the best-of-three semifinals.
The Indonesia Warriors (11-9) aim to nail the third spot on the final day of the triple round-robin tomorrow, just days after Malaysia Westports Dragons failed in their own bid and dropped to fourth (11-10).
The deposed champion Slammers surprisingly struggled for most of the season for a 5-15 card.
