Game Saturday
(Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig)
4 p.m. — RP Patriots vs Brunei Barracudas

The Singapore Slingers walked the tightrope this time before turning back the gritty Brunei Barracudas, 82-80, to stay unbeaten in the ASEAN Basketball League Saturday at the Brunei Indoon Stadium.

Former RP team import Michael LeBlanc sizzled with 32 points while Filipino import Al Vergara added 15 makers as the Slingers roared to their third straight win in as many games in the 6-nation tournament using a home-and-away tournament.

Unlike in their 87-69 win the first time they clashed at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Oct.11, the Slingers needed the late-game heroics of the 6-foot-7 LeBlanc and Vergara down the stretch to ward off the spirited challenge of the Bong Ramos-mentored Barracudas.

The Barracudas, starring Filipinos Leo Avenido and Kiko Adriano and Americans Lonnis Jones and Michael Pilgrim, took the early initiative with their brilliant transition plays and torrid shooting that saw them post a 44-39 lead at halftime.

But the Slingers, with 6-foot-11 Kyle Jeffers joining the fray, outscored the Barracudas, 23-15, to take the upperhand, 62-59, going into the final 10 minutes. The Slingers maintained their lead through the fourth but they never had the luxury of taking more than five points as the Barracudas played inspired basketball.

They shot impressively from the field, making 31 of 55 tries for 56 percent against 46 percent for the Slingers who converted 30 of 65 tries. The Barracudas also had more rebounds, 29-20 but their horrendous free throw shooting did them in.

The Barracudas made only 15 of 27 tries against 12 of 16 for the Slingers, who also enjoyed a 10-3 advantage in three-point shooting.

Avenido, who played for various clubs in the PBA, led the Barracudas with 20 points and seven rebounds.

Meantime, the Philippine Patriots and the Thailand Tigers are playing at press time at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig with the Filipinos aching to bounce back from a stinging 74-69 loss to the Slingers last Sunday in Singapore.

With the addition of three UAAP stars – Ateneo’s Nonoy Baclao and University of the East’s Val Acuna and Elmer Espiritu – the Patriots are slightly favored over the Tigers.

The RP Patriots are currently locked in a three-way tie for second to fourth places with Indonesia’s Satria Muda BritAma and Kuala Lumpur Dragons at 1-1.