Warren Ybanez runs away with the ball as Francis Adriano of the Brunei Barracudas hits the floor during their Asean Basketball League game at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City last Sunday. The Patriots won, 87-65. (Photo by BOB DUNGO JR.)

Despite finishing with the best record after the elimination round, the Philippine Patriots can expect a tight and bruising encounter with the KL Dragons when their best-of-three semifinals begin this Sunday.

Coach Louie Alas believes that the Dragons, who won their last three games to edge out the Brunei Barracudas for the last playoff berth, have what it takes to challenge the favored Filipino cagers.

"I think they (KL Dragons) are the best defensive team in the league," said Alas. "We have to play much better basketball this time because the last four games of KL, they're playing very well because of their defense."

The Patriots will begin their title drive with momentum on their hands after blasting the Barracudas, 87-65, last Sunday behind another stellar performance from their workaholic import Gabe Freeman.

Freeman dazzled the good-sized crowd with 20 points, 21 rebounds, four assists and two steals as the squad co-owned by Mikee Romero and Tony Boy Cojuangco finished the regular season with an 11-4 record.

Pumped up after his lip was busted following a hard foul by Filipino import Leo Avenido in the first quarter, Freeman had 12 points and nine rebounds in the first half alone before making some impressive baskets in the third quarter to pull away. He sat on the bench for the most of the payoff period.

"He was very mad (when he got hit) and that made him more fired up and Gabe said that if they keep doing it to him then I'll just shoot over them," Alas said.

Although Freeman and their other American import Jason Dixon, who notched his 10th double-double in the team’s last 11 games with 12 points and 14 rebounds, were once again impressive, Alas also gave props to his local players.

"Our locals provided the intangibles and also played well defensively. That's why our imports we're very happy with them," he said.

Among those who made solid contributions were point guard Warren Ybanez with 11 points, five rebounds, seven assists and two steals, power forward Jerwin Gaco with nine points and team captain Rob Wainwright with eight points and two blocks.

Alas also credited former collegiate stars Nonoy Baclao and Elmer Espiritu. Baclao made four points and eight rebounds in just 12 minutes while Espiritu may have been scoreless for 17 minutes but pulled down five rebounds and blocked two shots.