Patriots turn back Slingers; Keep ABL lead with fifth win

Nakiea Miller and Anthony Johnson of the Philippine Patriots. Photo from aseanbasketballleague.com

MANILA, Philippines—Airasia Philippines overcame Singapore’s hot shooting in the final quarter as the Patriots slipped past the Slingers, 80-75, to keep the solo lead in the Asean Basketball League (ABL) Sunday night at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Anthony Johnson and Al Vergara combined to rescue the Patriots late in the game after Singapore’s Filipino import Chris Canta and Wei Long Wong unloaded four triples that brought the Slingers within 67-68.

The Patriots, the league’s inaugural champions who are playing on the road for the first time this season, remained on top with a 5-1 record.

San Miguel, which dumped Saigon Heat, 85-62, on Saturday night, kept a share of second with the Westports Malaysia Dragons at 4-2 while the Slingers slipped to 4-3.

In Thailand, the Indonesia Warriors routed the Bangkok Cobras, 73-57, for their third victory in six outings.

Johnson topscored with 26 and Vergara, who played for the Slingers in the tournament’s maiden year, led the locals anew with 14 as the Patriots streaked to their third straight victory.

The Patriots also got a lift in the second half from Angel Raymundo and the 6-foot-6 Aldrech Ramos, who suited up after getting sidelined for three games due to a sprained left ankle.

Stepping up defensively, the Patriots got the Slingers’ American imports Louis Graham and Donald Little out of the scoring equation in the final quarter.

Canta, who saw action for Shopinas.com in the PBA, paced the Slingers with 19 points.

The Patriots hit the road anew on Saturday against defending champion Chang Thailand Slammers at the Thai Japanese Association Gym in Bangkok.