Patriots vow win over Slammers

BANGKOK, Thailand – Philippine Patriots mentor Louie Alas said hey would not leave anything to chance in their match against the Chang Thailand Slammers in the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) Season 2 Saturday night at the Nimbutr National Stadium here.

“The field is definitely tougher this season because all the teams really improved tremendously,” said Alas a day after arriving in this City of Flowers Friday.

Indeed, the Slammers have shown they have the ability to unseat the Patriots, co-owned by Harbour Centre’s Mikee Romero and businessman Tony Boy Cojuangco, after the former roared to an impressive 3-0 start to seize a share of the lead with the latter.

The Filipinos will focus on Thailand import Jason Dixon, their reinforcement who was instrumental in helping them nail the inaugural crown and who has posted monster numbers going into their much- anticipated duel.

The power-playing Dixon hit 28 points and 18 rebounds as the Slammers crushed Satria Muda Britama of Indonesia, 84-63, last week.

“We need to prepare against Jason Dixon and the Thais. If we could play the defense that we prepared against them, we’ll have a chance,” said Alas, who decided to rest his wards by allowing them to view the Slammers’ past games this season.

The match between the league’s top two teams could also be a sneak preview of this season’s finale.

Aside from Dixon, the Thai players to watch out for are Filipinos Froilan Baguion and 6-9 Frederick Canlas, another import Chris Kuerte and the sweet-shooting Piyapong Piroon.

The Patriots are pinning their hopes on the returning Anthony Johnson, who will play although he is still recovering from the hamstring injury in a 71-62 win over the Brunei Barracudas.

In that same game, the prolific Johnson, a former import in the PBA, unloaded 24 points and plucked 12 rebounds before sitting out the Patriots’ next two games – a 62-59 triumph over the Singapore Slingers two weeks back and a 72-67 overtime thriller also against the Barracudas a week ago.

“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 Patriots coach Louie Alas. “In fact, his doctor advised him to play just at least 25 minutes.”

With Johnson far from top form, Alas hopes his top local players – Junjun Cabatu, Benedict Fernandez, Egay Billones and Allan Salangsang – will step up on both ends against the talent-laden Thailand side.

“Thailand is getting better and stronger so the boys will have to play very hard,” said Romero.

Joey Villar, Philippine Star