Philippine Patriots import Jason Dixon expects a strong challenge against teams from five other countries when the newly-launched ASEAN Basketball League starts this Saturday in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Dixon, who once suited up as an import for the Coca-Cola Tigers in the PBA, will be the Patriots’ go-to guy and in all likelihood, will absorb the other teams’ tough defense.

Though standing at 6-10, Dixon, 35, expects other teams, such as the Singapore Slingers and Satria Muda BritAma of Indonesia, to field equally tall imports.

"It doesn't matter how tall somebody is. Lot of it comes from skill, if you don't back down because he's 7-foot tall, you just have to rely on different moves and different legs to move around," said Dixon during Tuesday's PSA Forum at Shakey's UN Avenue.

"Honestly I don't know what to expect but I know my job is going to be pretty hard every night," he added.

Dixon will be joined by 6-foot-5 Brandon Powell, a member of the Florida Gators that won the 2006 US NCAA championship, as the two imports of the Patriots coached by Letran mentor Louie Alas.

Team co-owner Mikee Romero believes that the hiring of Alas, who led the Knights to three NCAA titles and the Manila Metrostars to the 1999 Metropolitan Basketball Association crown, would help bring a physical mind-set to the Patriots.

"With the FIBA rules being implemented, it will almost be a no-hard, no-foul type of games," said Romero. "So it's very exciting but at the same time we want our team to be as tough as nails. That is why I got Louie Alas who is known to be very physical in terms of developing players."

Team captain and ex-PBA cager Rob Wainwright and former UST Growling Tiger Khasim Mirza will spearhead the Patriots campaign when it goes up against host Indonesia at the BritAma Arena in Jakarta.

Erick Arejola, the Patriots' team manager, said that all games of the Patriots plus matches of the other ABL squads will be shown on TV-5 (formerly ABC-5) of co-owner Tony Boy Cojuangco.