Despite their breezy win in the opening of their best-of-three semis series with the Kuala Lumpur Dragons, the Philippines Patriots coach Louie Alas expects a tight and rugged showdown when the series shifts to Malaysia on Wednesday in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).

The Patriots, who arrived at the bustling Malaysian capital Monday, expect to battle not only the Dragons but the raucous partisan crowd that earned them the unofficial title as the "best fans in the ABL."

"It's going to be a different battle there (in Kuala Lumpur)," Alas said. "The crowd there is amazing and we have to build a mindset that all of those in the gym will be our opponents,” said Alas.

But judging the way they played defensively in Game 1, Alas appears confident of their chances of securing a finals berth in the inaugural staging of the event.

“It’s going to be an exciting game,” said Alas.

Even co-team owner Mikee Romero was satisfied with their defensive effort.

“It was perhaps their best game so far, but I expect them to play much harder and smarter in Game 2,” said the CEO and president of Harbour Centre.

"Our defensive intensity was incredible. We took it possession by possession and the players were even the ones who said to maintain their strong play," Alas said.

Aside from imports Gabe Freeman (15 points and 11 rebounds) and Jason Dixon (13 points and 13 boards), Alas got huge games from the starting backcourt of Warren Ybanez and JP Alcaraz along with rugged forward Jerwin Gaco.

Ybañez had five of his eight points in the first quarter while adding five rebounds and two assists. Alcaraz scored just two points – a basket in the opening period – but registered seven rebounds and six assists while Gaco posted seven points and 11 boards.