MANILA---Pledging renewed focus, the AirAsia Philippine Patriots try to get back at the Chang Thailand Slammers today and extend the Asean Basketball League championship series into a winner-take-all affair.
Game 2 of the best-of-three showdown is set at 4 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. The match will also be shown live on ESPN.
“This is their (locals) second chance to prove their worth,” noted coach Louie Alas of the Patriots, who will try to protect their homecourt advantage and forge a deciding third game next week in Bangkok.
The Philippines’ top gunners had a dismal showing in Game 1 in Bangkok, allowing the Slammers to wrest control in the closing quarters and forge a 66-58 triumph last Sunday.
Thailand’s Filipino imports Froilan Baguion and Ardy Larong, along with Jason Dixon, delivered the lethal blows that lifted the Slammers within a win of dethroning the Philippines.
And the Slammers believe there’s more to their arsenal that may just catch the Patriots off guard.
“Of course we can’t say what they are,” said Slammers coach Raha Mortel, a Filipino mentor based in Bangkok.
“But we made some adjustments [in Game 1] that worked, plus there are a few more things we need to work on.”
Veteran guard Egay Billones, who had a paltry seven points in Game 1 after leading the Patriots with a 13.6-point average in the tournament, vowed to bounce back along with Benedict Fernandez and Junjun Cabatu.
“Our imports and their counterparts are just canceling each other out so the locals will make the difference in Game 2,” said Alas.
Fernandez and Cabatu, the two clutch shooters who bailed out the Patriots in past games, finished scoreless in Game 1.
Patriots import Gabe Freeman, meanwhile, hopes to stay out of foul trouble, while fellow American Steve Thomas tries to get the better of his match-up with Dixon at the paint.
“We have already talked about what happened in Game 1, we were so tight,” said Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero, who co-owns the team with Tonyboy Cojuangco.
“But I still believe that we still have the best local players in the league, so we can still do it.”
Jasmine Payo, Phil. Daily Inquirer
