Patriots test Barracudas in ABL start

MANILA—The Philippine Patriots test their retooled roster against a beefed up Brunei Barracudas in the AirAsia Asean Basketball League Season 2 Sunday.   Even with only three holdovers from last season’s championship run, the Patriots expect another competitive stint with locals Warren Ybañez, Egay Billones,  Benedict Fernandez, Junjun Cabatu, and new imports Anthony Johnson and Donald Little.   Game time is at 4 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.   “We really need a pure center but I’m hoping that Little will come up with a big show,” said Patriots coach Louie Alas.   The Barracudas, coming off a fifth-place finish in the six-nation tournament, tapped American coach Ozell Wells as replacement for Filipino mentor Bong Ramos.   “The team has jelled as a unit in just a little over two weeks,” Wells, who had coaching stints in Yemen and Trinidad and Tobago, recently told The Brunei Times.   The Barracudas also hired Filipinos Chester Tolomia, Bryan Faundo and Kevin White and imports Chris Commons and Chris Garnett.