After two consecutive defeats, the Philippine Patriots probably now realize that the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) is not a playground they can call their own.

Patriots coach Louie Alas said so after arriving from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Sunday where his team bowed to the Kuala Lumpur Dragons.

Before this setback, the Patriots lost to the Singapore Slingers 67-59 last Wednesday in Singapore.

With Thailand next on their schedule on Sunday in Bangkok, the Patriots will have a heavy practice starting today hoping to regain their winning ways.

"We have to give it to them (Singapore and Kuala Lumpur), they were very conditioned and we were kind of losing steam in the fourth quarter," admitted Alas.

"I think we were kind of complacent after the break," added Alas.

"And somehow our offense has been stagnant so we will have to work on it heading into our next game."

Although 6-foot-9 import Jason Dixon maintained his usual form, scoring 19 points and grabbing 15 rebounds the last time out, Alas got practically nothing from the team’s other import in Brandon Powell.

Powell was held to just five points on an awful 2-of-12 shooting.

"We will emphasize more on moving the ball around (in practice) and hopefully get our local players more involved on offense in our succeeding games," said Alas.

They still have a firm grip of the lead in this fledging six-nation league with a 9-4 record.

The Slingers are in second place with a 7-4 card followed by Indonesian side Satria Muda BritAma at 8-5.