MANILA, Philippines — With their prolific import out due to injury, the Philippine Patriots will be put to great test when they battle Indonesia’s Satria Muda BritAma this Saturday in the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League at the Yñares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Anthony Johnson, after re-injuring his hamstring during the Patriots’ 54-48 victory over the Chang Thailand Slammers last week in Bangkok, will be in street clothes when the Patriots gun for their fifth straight win against the Satria Muda at 8 p.m.
“He will not play,” Patriots coach Louie Alas said. “I guess we’ll just have to double our effort without AJ especially on defense.”
Without Johnson, who had 14 points and seven boards in the win over the Slammers, the squad co-owned by Harbour Centre’s Mikee Romero and businessman Tony Boy Cojuangco is expected to lean on 6-foot-10 Donald Little and top local players led by Junjun Cabatu and Egay Billiones.
Little has managed to put on a solid effort on both ends while Cabatu and Billones have been carrying the scoring load for the Filipinos.
It will be the first time the Patriots and Satria Muda will meet since their rugged title series last season.
Led by imports Jason Dixon and Gabe Freeman along with Finals Most Valuable Player Warren Ybñez, the Filipino cagers completed a three-game sweep to bag the inaugural crown.
Only three players, however, remain in the Patriots championship core, including Ybañez.
Satria Muda saw its core group staying in the country’s local National Basketball League.
The Indonesians, who could only show one win four matches, will be led by Mario Wuysang, a holdover from last season, Filipinos Kiko Adriano, Don Camaso and new addition Rob Sanz and imports Marcus Morrison and Antoine Broxsie.
Jonas Terrado, Manila Bulletin
Subject: RP Patriots underdogs vs Indons 
Sat Oct 30, 2010 2:56 am
