Asean Basketball League Roundup: January 21, 2012

Marvin Cruz helped the Cobras upset their more
fancied local rivals for win #1.

*All images are from AseanBasketballLeague.com

BANGKOK COBRAS over CHANG THAILAND SLAMMERS, 71-67

It’s a game that both teams tried very hard to win, as the Bangkok Cobras went into the game still looking for their first win of the season and the Chang Thailand Slammers just coming off of a bitter loss mid-week to the Singapore Slingers.

The Slammers went to current high-scorer Deandre Thomas early and often, but the Bangkok Cobras looked to be gelling well together as a team and fought back strong to finish the first quarter leading, 21-16.

The Cobras held their lead throughout the second quarter as the Slammers’ hectic travel schedule may have affected them (this is their third game, two of which are away, in just six days.) The scoreboard read Cobras 40:32 Slammers at the half.

The Chang Thailand Slammers, however, pushed back hard in the third quarter. Strong play from DeAndre Thomas cut the Cobras’ lead by as little as 3 points, but a strong performance by the Cobras’ Gentry Lewis and Michael Earl also ensured that the Cobras still kept their lead going into the final quarter, 55-48.

The Slammers came very close to overtaking their opponents, but the Cobras’ Ratdech Kruatiwa and Lewis, who scored 20 points apiece in the match, finally gave the Cobras their first win of the season.

The Bangkok Cobras will head over to Singapore on January 19, 2012 to face the Singapore Slingers at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The Chang Thailand Slammers, meanwhile, will host the San Miguel Beermen on the same day at the Thai Japanese Association Gym in Thailand.

BKC 71 – Kruatiwa 20, Lewis 20, Earl 10, Cruz 7, Klahan 6, Apiromvilaichai 4, Chaiwat 4, Wanna 0, Limsuwan 0, Kongkum 0

CTS 67 – Thomas 19, Lertmalaiporn 19, Tolomia 16, Jantuma 7, Williams 4, Apiromvilaichai 2, Suttisin 0, Walker 0, Pinitpatcharalert 0, Ghogar 0

QS: 21-16, 40-32, 55-48, 71-67

Jeo "Jellybean" Bryant heads the brain trust for
the Bangkok Cobras.

Mana Jantuma and the Slammers couldn't finish strong
against their compatriots.

SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN over AIR ASIA PHILIPPINE PATRIOTS, 78-70

It was the first all-Filipino match in the 2012 ASEAN Basketball League and the San Miguel Beermen wanted to chase their first win of the season while the Philippine Patriots looked forward to asserting their dominance over their fellow Pinoys.

The scoring in the opening frame was pretty tight as the Beermens’s Doug Thompson led his team in scoring with 8 points and Dalron Lamar Johnson contributing 10 for the Patriots. The Beermen came out of the first quarter with a slim 21-17 lead.

The game was kept close in the second quarter but SMB sustained its form to hold sway, 40-32. They shot pretty well from the floor, connecting on 46% of their field goals and missing only 2 from the free throw line. The third quarter ended with the Beermen still leading, 60-50.

The final buzzer eventually saw SMB retaining its lead and winning the game. Johnson had a brilliant game and ended with a double-double line of 23 points and 11 rebounds. On the other end, it was Anthony Johnson who led the Philippine Patriots with 25 points.

SMB 78 —Johnson 23, Thomas 14, Avenido 14, Fernandez 8, Fajardo 6, Rizada 4, Dela Pena 3, Luanzon 2, Baguion 2, Cabatu 2, Mangahas 0.

PHP 70—Johnson 25, Miller 15, Vergara 13, Rodriguez 6, Ramos 5, Fernandez 4, Wainwright 2, Ybanez 0, Arellano 0, Raymundo 0, Juntilla 0, Larong 0.

QS: 21-17, 40-32, 60-50, 78-70

WESTPORTS MALAYSIA DRAGONS over INDONESIA WARRIORS, 93-80

Dragons import Tiras Wade was short one assist to record the first ever triple-double in the ASEAN Basketball League. He finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists as the Dragons pulled a win on the road over the Indonesia Warriors.

Dragons’ sharpshooter Patrick Cabahug came up big with 21 points off the bench and Brian Williams recorded another double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Warriors’ Jonathan Smith led all scorers with 25 points. Steven Thomas added a further 24 points and 21 rebounds for the Warriors.

Tiras Wade started the game firing as he made his first five shots in the first three minutes of the game. The Warriors’ Mario Wuysang and Jonathan Smith overcame Wade’s fast start by scoring a combined 14 points in the first quarter and the Warriors finished the quarter leading, 27-22.

The momentum shifted to the Dragons in the second quarter. Patrick Cabahug made a three-point shot at the 7-minute mark as the Dragons took the lead 36-34. Cabahug eventually went 5-of-5 from beyond the arc. The Dragons took the lead, 49-41, at the break.

The Dragons had their biggest lead of 16 points after Wade converted his two free throws in the third quarter. From there, The Warriors couldn’t get any closer than 11.

The Dragons will try to stay unbeaten as they host the Saigon Heat on January 28 at the MABA Stadium at 3 PM. The Warriors will try to bounce back as they travel to Manila to play against the Philippine Patriots on the same date at 4 PM local time.

WMD 93 – Wade 22, Williams 22, Cabahug 21, Belasco 10, Batumalai 5, Loh 5, Lau 2, Ng 2, Pacana 2, Kuppusamy 2, Kuek 0

INW 80 – Smith 25, Thomas 24, Wuysang 16, Cañada 5, Prihantono 5, Gunawan 5, Sta. Cruz 0, Ricafuente 0

QS: 22-27, 49-41, 69-55, 93-80