In a see-saw battle, the Patriots failed to sustain two three-point leads in the payoff period as the Slammers uncorked big shots from the outside to exact sweet revenge and gain a share of the lead with their victims.

Aside from avenging their 54-48 loss to the Patriots in the first round, the Slammers ended the Patriots 14-game winning run at home since the start of the home-and-away tournament last year.

The Patriots, co-owned by Harbour Centre boss Mikee Romero and businessman Tony Boy Cojuangco, had actually a chance to win the game but veteran Warren Ybanez forced his shot despite Thailand’s tight defense.

The absence of import Jason Dixon who was fouled out in the last three minutes made the win doubly sweet for the Slammers.

For a while, the Patriots appeared headed to the victory when they surged to a 57-54 lead on Donald Little’s towering dunk.

But the Slammers fought back and tied the count at 66-all before reserve guard Sopon Pinitpatcharalert made the biggest shot of the game, hitting a wide open three-point shot – the team’s third triple in the fourth quarter.

The Patriots trimmed the deficit to a point as Chito Jaime scored on finger roll then had an opportunity to win it when they forced Thailand to shoot an airball with 13 ticks left.

The scores:

THAILAND
69 — Sullivan 20, Piroon 13, Dixon 10, Baguion 10, Larong 7, Lertmalaiporn 5, Pinitpatcharalert 3, Jantuma 1, Sillapapipat 0.
PHL PATRIOTS 68 — Little 18, Jaime 17, Billones 11, Wright 7, Cabatu 5, Fernandez 4, Salangsang 2, Sta. Cruz 2, Sta. Maria 2, Ybanez 0.
Quarters: 19-19; 35-34; 51-47; 69-68.

Jonas Terrado, Manila Bulletin