The win almost did not happen as the Slingers rode on the spectacular 39-point performance of all people, a Filipino, Leo Avenido, who fired up the crowd with eight 3-pointers.

Avenido’s heroics went for naught as the Patriots hacked out an 87-85 win in double overtime for their sixth win in seven games to keep the solo lead in the AirAsia Asean Basketball League Season 3.

Avenido, one of several Filipino hoopsters playing as import in the fledgling league, led all scorers but he finally tired out in the extension after leading his team to as many as 19 points in the second quarter.

“What a game, what a comeback,” said a relieved co-team owner Mikee Romero who had flown in earlier in the day to watch what he knew would be a tough game.

The Slingers had twice beaten the Patriots in their home court and appeared ready to hand the RP squad another shellacking.

But the Patriots, led by imports Donald Little and the just-arrived Rasheim Wright, slowly nibbled at the Slingers’ substantial lead.

The efforts, while successful, proved costly. Both imports were out during the two overtimes, one from injury, the other from fouls, forcing coach Louie Alas to rely on an all-Filipino lineup.

The crew, led by Egay Billones, Allan Salangsang, Chito Jaime and Junjun Cabatu, responded although two extensions were needed, on both occasions the Filipinos had the lead in the dying seconds.

Billones took charge by scoring all of his nine points in the last five minutes as the RP Patriots bounced back from a stunning defeat to the Brunei Barracudas last week.

Billones scored six of the Patriots first seven points in the second overtime, including a jumper at the 1:59 mark that gave them an 82-80 lead.

A Harold Sta. Cruz basket kept the Patriots up, 84-82, before Billones’ three free throws in the last 10.5 seconds sealed the victory.

”We have never beaten the Slingers in their homecourt,” said Alas. “And playing without imports in the crucial stages made this win special.”

He also praised his boys for not getting intimidated by the pro-home crowd as they also got inspiration from hundreds of Filipinos who trooped to the stadium.

Wright had 22 points, Little 10 and 17 rebounds while Joseph Salangsang had 12 points and Jun Cabatu 10.

The Patriots next play against Thailand in Manila on Saturday, perhaps without Wright who may have pulled a hamstring. — Ding Marcelo

The scores:

PHILIPPINES 87 — Wright 22, Salangsang 12, Jaime 11, Little 10, Cabatu 10, Billones 9, Sta. Cruz 8, Ybañez 5, Fernandez 0, Maliksi 0.

SINGAPORE 85 — Avenido 36, Skinner 29, Jeffers 12, Khoo 4, Matialakan 2, Oh 2, Vergara 0, Wong 0, Lim 0, Ng 0.

Quarters: 10-24, 26-40, 49-53, 66-66 (reg.) 75-75 (1OT), 87-85 (2OT)