ABL: RP Patriots face ex-import in clash of unbeaten teams

With import Anthony Johnson still a doubtful starter, Philippine Patriots coach Louie Alas is hoping his Filipino crew will step up big-time again when they play the Chang Thailand Slammers on Saturday in the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) Season 2.

It also marks the first time they will be facing former import Jason Dixon and Filipino guard Froilan Baguion.

Game Saturday
(Nimibutr National Stadium, Bangkok)
8 p.m. – Thailand Slammers vs RP Patriots

Aside from Dixon who posted 28 points and 18 rebounds in the team's 84-63 win over Indonesia’s Satria Muda BritAma last Saturday, Alas is also wary of Thailand’s other import Chris Kuete and outside gunner Piyapong Piroon.

The RP Patriots' other import, Donald Little, will have his hands full against the 6-foot-10 Dixon who vowed to help the Slammers notch their fourth win against the Filipinos.

The RP-Thailand 8 p.m. showdown at the Nimibutr National Stadium in Bangkok will be a battle of undefeated teams with similar 3-0 win-loss records.

"AJ will be back but he can’t play 100 percent. He's not yet in his best form, so we have to play as one big unit against the host squad," said Alas. "In fact, his doctor advised him to only play for 25 minutes."

Johnson, who is also a former PBA import, has just recovered from a hamstring injury he suffered during the team's opening game against the Brunei Barracudas three weeks ago.

He scored 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in RP's 71-62 win, but missed the Patriots' next two games because of the injury.

Still, the Patriots managed to win against the fancied Singapore Slingers (62-59) on October 9 and repeated over the Barracuds in overtime (72-67) last Saturday.

With Johnson expected to play limited minutes, Alas hopes that Junjun Cabatu, Benedict Fernandez, Egay Billones and Allan Salangsang can provide the offense for the Patriots, since they will be up against a team considered to be a threat to RP's back-to-back title bid. - JVP/KY, GMANews.TV