SINGAPORE — Imports Anthony Johnson and Nakiea Miller are doing great job for the team so far, but when the AirAsia Philippine Patriots play the Singapore Slingers in the 3rd AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) Sunday focus will be on Aldrech Ramos and pint-sized Al Vergara.

The 6-foot-7 Ramos has vowed to be more aggressive offensively not only for their 4 p.m. showdown with the host squad at the Singapore Indoor Stadium but also for their future games to atone himself after missing the team’s last three games – no thanks to a sprained left ankle.

But the former Gilas Pilipinas pool member is not in a hurry to play between 30 to 40 minutes a game, knowing the team has been successful with their offensive rotation having won their last three games or since he was out of the team.

“I’m happy that Aldrech is back with the team, he’s a good player but he understands that he has to take it slowly, we’re not yet halfway through the elims so he will have his time,” said Patriots coach Glenn Capacio.

Vergara, on the other hand, is returning to the Lion City for the first time to haunt the team he played for the past two seasons.

The wily Vergara was one of the stars of the Slingers before – being adored here for his court wizardry – but now that he’s on the opposite side, he will be considered as an enemy, too.

“We have so many contributors to the team but Al has done well in ochestrating our offensive plays, so I hope he will do the same thing against his former team,” added Capacio.

Now on top of the standing with a 4-1 record, the Patriots, co-owned by Harbour Centre’s Mikee Romero and Tony Boy Cojuangco, are hoping to further solidify their lead in the 8-team tournament as they brace for a tough road games ahead.

While the Patriots are on a roll, the Slingers are still licking the wound of their 66-56 loss to the defending champion Thailand Slammers that dropped to second place at 4-2.

Johnson is averaging 25 points a game – second best in the league – while Miller is not only an offensive threat (20 points per contest) but also a ferocious rebounder after averaging 13.6 rebound a game.