Indonesia remained the hottest team in the 2013 ABL after
beating the Slingers and the Slammers in succession this past week to stay atop
the standings with 6 wins against only 2 losses.
Four Warriors broke through double-digit scoring as
Indonesia defeated Singapore this past Wednesday before the Warriors slammed
the Slammers just yesterday. Jerick Cañada and John Smith scored 11 each while
Chris Daniels and Mario Wuysang registered 10 apiece as the Indons won their
fifth straight game at the expense of the Slingers, who were paced by Rashad
Jones-Jennings’s 19 markers.
In yesterday’s lone game, Indonesia was led by Daniels’s 22
points and 14 rebounds as the Warriors upended the Chang Thailand Slammers,
90-74. Steven Thomas added 15 points and 11 boards, while Wuysang, Smith, and
Cañada combined for 43 markers.
 |
| John Smith continues his improved play for Indonesia. |
In the second game this past week, the Beermen caught up
with Saigon at second place after winning their third game in five tries. Fil-American
Chris Banchero topped the scoring with 26 points, while Gabe Freeman added 20
points and 13 rebounds. Michael Earl, Jonathan Fernandez, and Christian Charles
paced the Slammers with 16, 13, and 12 points respectively. The Thais remained
at the bottom of the standings with only 2 wins in seven games.
Game Recaps:
INDONESIA
WARRIORS over JOBSTREET.COM SINGAPORE SLINGERS, 61-48
Indonesia Warriors did not give up their lead during the
entire game against the JobStreet.com Singapore Slingers as they extended their
winning streak to five-games after a 61-48 win at Senayan Indoor Stadium,
Indonesia.
John Smith continued his solid performance with 11 points
before he was forced to leave the game with a cramp. Jerick Canada also
contributed 11 points. Chris Daniels recorded his seventh double-double of the
season as he scored 10 points and 12 rebounds while Mario Wuysang added 10
points for the Warriors who are still on top of the standings table with a
record of 5 wins and 2 losses.
The Warriors did something different for this game as they
played the game not at their regular home court, Mahaka Square and wore
throwback Satria Muda jerseys. "I was very happy to get the win. It was
great coming to a different venue and to share this experience with some new
fans," says Warriors' head coach Todd Purves.
Purves was very happy about the Warriors' perimeter defense.
"I was very happy with our perimeter pressure defensively. We were able to
ge them out of their offense a little bit with that pressure and turn some of
the stops into offense."
Back to back threes from Mario Wuysang gave the Warriors
their biggest lead in the game, 36-16, with 2:19 left before halftime. The
Slingers trimmed the Warriors lead to 36-23 at halftime on back to back baskets
from Rashad Jones-Jennings and a three-point shot from Kyle Jeffers.
The Slingers were able to gain some momentum early in the
fourth quarter and shaved the Warriors lead to 9 points on a field goal from
Desmond Oh and Jones-Jennings. Feeding off the energy from the home fans,
Warriors scored a quick 7 points to push
the lead back to 55-39 with 6:01 left in the game.
With this loss, however, the Slingers are still on the
fourth spot with a record of 2 wins and 3 losses. Jones-Jennings scored a
season-high 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while Jeffers only managed 9. Jun
Cabatu also added 9 points for the Slingers who were playing without one of
their stars Wong Wei Long.
 |
| Jerick Cañada adds depth to the Indon backcourt. |
 |
| Jun-Jun Cabatu tries to turn the corner for Singapore. |
SAN MIGUEL
BEERMEN over CHANG THAILAND SLAMMERS, 77-73
It was an incredible game tonight as the Chang Thailand
Slammers hosted the San Miguel Beermen. The Beermen trailed for most of the
first half but a strong third quarter built up an 11 point lead before they
continued on to win 77 to 73.
Chris Banchero had a strong performance for the Beermen as
he finished the game’s top scorer with 26 points. Gabe Freeman continues his
fine playing by finishing with a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds.
The Slammers started off strong and built up a six point
lead within the first three minutes of the game. They successfully maintained a
lead for most of the first half although the Beermen ensured that they still
kept within striking distance. At the halftime buzzer, the Slammers were only
able to defend a three point lead at 39 to 36 before heading into the locker
rooms for the break.
Avenido’s basket at the 7:22 minute mark after the break put
the Beermen up 39 to 40. This also sparked a twelve point run that resulted in
a 50 to 39 scoreline to the Beermen’s favor at the mid-way point of the third
quarter.
The Slammers did well to fight back however and an important
steal by Baguion which was converted by Dawsom put the Slammers back within a
single point. A Lertlaaokul three then put the Slammers within a single point
at 49 to 50 with less than three minutes remaining until the final period. The
Beermen were not to be denied however and dunks from Taulava and Freeman capped
off a strong quarter which saw them with the 56 to 52 lead going into the
fourth.
The Beermen defended their lead in the final period, putting
in as much as nine points between the two teams. The Slammers kept fighting and
it looked as though the game could be going into overtime as a Michael Earl
three put them back to a one possesion game at 73 to 76 with less than 20
seconds remaining. Banchero was then sent to the line and made one of two free
throws to ensure that four points separated the teams. Charles was sent to the
line and at that point the Slammers had made 14 out of 16 from the line.
Unfortunately Charles missed both his shots and the Beermen had the 77 to 73
win at the final buzzer.
Michael Earl led the scoring for the Slammers with 16
points, followed by Jonathan Fernandez with 13. Chris Charles had a
double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds and also recorded 9 blocks in this
game.
The Chang Thailand Slammers host the Indonesia Warriors at
the Bangkok University Gym for the 1900hrs local, 2000hrs HKT tip-off this
Friday the 15th of February 2013 for this week’s ABL Friday Basketball game.
 |
| Chris Banchero led the way for SMB. |
 |
| Gabe Freeman punctuates his strong play with this slam! |
 |
| Kannawat Lertlaaokul tries to drive past Paolo Hubalde. |
INDONESIA
WARRIORS over CHANG THAILAND SLAMMERS, 90-74
The Indonesia Warriors extend their winning streak to six
games tonight after a 90 to 74 win over the Chang Thailand Slammers.
The Slammers put up a tough fight but were unable to contain
the Warriors, who put up a superb team effort as five of the traveling squad
recorded points in the double digits. Chris Daniels recorded his eighth straight
double-double for the Warriors after he scored 22 points and grabbed 14
rebounds in this game. Mario Wuysang contributed 16 points, Steve Thomas
grabbed 15, Jerick Canada had 14 and John Smith had 13.
Both teams started off cold in the opening minutes until
Christien Charles opened up the scoring with a free throw followed up with a
hook shot to give the Slammers an early 3 to 1 lead three and a half minutes
into the game. Christian Sitepu answered immediately with a three pointer to
put the Warriors back up 4 to 3, a lead which the Warriors did not give up for
the rest of the game.
The Slammers tried to keep the game close and Wutipong
Dawsom scored 7 points in the first quarter to keep them within striking
distance. The Warriors were shooting very well however and earned the 24 to 16
lead going into the second.
Thomas opened up scoring in the second quarter to put the
Warriors lead into the double digits at 26 to 16. Determined to keep the game
within their sights, the Slammers managed a run to pull back within four points
after Dawsom made a lay-up and Charles made a shot over Thomas at the 7:29
mark. The Warriors played a very convincing first half, finishing 47% from the
field and 80% from the line as they headed into the halftime break on top 44 to
35.
The Warriors continued to assert their dominance as they
immediately went to work in the second half and opened up the gap to 11 points
between the two teams on a lay-up from Thomas.
Despite the double digit lead the Slammers never gave up and
continued to push back. Baguion made an important steal mid-way through the
quarter and drove down the coast to close up the Warriors lead. Tongsri then
made a three to close down the Warriors to within just 5 points.
Every time the Slammers got close, the Warriors had an
answer and this time a 3 point shot from Sitepu and a pair of free throws from
Canada ensured that the Warriors would maintain a 65-56 lead heading into the
final quarter.
With the clock quickly winding down, the Warriors were
unstoppable as they could feel a six game win streak within their grasp. In the
final minute, three straight three pointers by Canada, Smith and Wuysang gave
the Warriors the 90 to 74 win.
Despite the loss, the Slammers centre Christien Charles led
all-scoring in tonight’s game as he recorded 27 points and 12 rebounds. The
Slammers young local Wutipong Dawsom played an impressive game tonight and
finished with 23 points.
 |
| Steven Thomas puts one in from close range. |
 |
| Wuttipong Dasom is one of very few bright spots for Thailand so far. |
Source: Game recaps were
compressed and compiled from AseanBasketballLeague.com.
Images: All images are
from AseanBasketballLeague.com.
0 Comment