Asean Basketball League Roundup: February 11-12, 2012

Boyet Bautista (L) and the rest of the Slammers got more than
a mouthful from Anthony Johnson (R) and the Patriots.

*All images are from AseanBasketballLeague.com

AIR ASIA PHILIPPINE PATRIOTS over CHANG THAILAND SLAMMERS, 81-72

It was a highly anticipated game as the two past champions of the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League faced off for the first time this season. In a game reminiscent of the Season 2 Finals, which saw the Thais lift the trophy, the Patriots came back from a 13-point deficit to beat the Slammers.

Both teams traded leads in the first quarter until a 7-point run by the Slammers midway, which prompted Coach Glenn Capacio to call a timeout for the Patriots. Despite a great quarter by Jonathan Fernandez, who scored 12 out of the Patriots’ total of 18, the Slammers had a comfortable lead going into the second quarter, 29-18.

The Slammers started the second quarter with confidence and extended their lead to 13, but the Patriots closed in thanks to strong games from Anthony Johnson and Warren Ybanez, both of whom contributed 14 out of the team’s total of 16 for the quarter

Maintaining the momentun after the halftime break, the Patriots asserted their dominance in the third quarter and took the lead back with over 8 minutes still left to play. The Patriots were unstoppable in this quarter both offensively and defensively, limiting the defending champions to just 13 points while the Patriots managed to put in 30 of their own.

The Slammers manages to cut the Patriots’ lead down to just 2 points with less than 5 minutes left in the fourth, but a final push by the Patriots in the last three minutes saw them extend their winning run to 6.

APP 81 – Johnson 21, Miller 14, Fernandez 12, Vergara 12, Ybanez 8, Ramos 6, Rodriguez 4, Raymundo 2, Wainwright 0, Laure 0, Juntilla 0

CTS 72 – Thomas 23, Walker 17, Tolomia 10, Bautista 7, Jantuma 7, Lertmalaiporn 5, Pinitpatcharalert 2, Sangthong 1, Ghogar 0, Apiromvilaichai 0

QS: 18-29, 34-40, 64-53, 81-72

Attaporn Lertmalaiporn goes around Johnson for
the underhand lay-up.

Nakeia Miller was his usual awesome self
against the Slammers.

SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN over INDONESIA WARRIORS, 77-61

The Beermen were unstoppable and did not give up the lead the entire game. Doug Thomas led the Beermen with his season-high 23 points. Leo Avenido added 12 points. The Warriors’ Jonathan Smith and Steven Thomas both recorded double-doubles, Smith with 18 points and 15 rebounds while Thomas had 16 points and 17 rebounds. Those numbers, however, were just not enough to gain the upper hand over SMB.

Coach Bobby Parks was happy with his team’s defense tonight as the Beermen’s defense limited Wuysang to only 10 points.

The Warriors did not get a lot out of their bench in this game. Only Jerick Canada scored for the Warriors off the bench with 6 points while the Beermen managed 27 points from their back-ups.

Coming into the 4th quarter, the Warriors still struggled with their offense as they managed just 9 points. The Beermen extend their winning streak to 3 games, and now have 5 wins and 2 losses.

SMB 77 – Thomas 23, Avenido 12, Johnson 8, Avenido 8, Cabatu 7, Mangahas 6, Fernandez 6, Gonzales 5, Rizada 2, Basco 0, Dela Pena 0, Fajardo 0

INW 61 – Smith 18, Thomas 16, Wuysang 10, Canada 6, Prihantono 6, Gunawan 5, Legaspi 0, Salangsang 0

QS: 22-11, 38-28, 57-52, 77-61

Beanpole Junmar Fajardo (L) was left scoreless even
as the Beermen defeated the Warriors.

Jonathan Smith slams one home for the Warriors.

Bobby Parks and the Beermen are riding high on a
nice winning streak.

WESTPORTS MALAYSIA DRAGONS over SINGAPORE SLINGERS, 86-71

The Dragons asserted their dominance straight into the game, quickly pulling away with a 12-point run, led by imports Tiras Wade and Brian Williams. A timeout was called by Coach Neo to try to get the troops back in line, but at this point the Slingers just could not find any solution.

The second quarter was much better for the Slingers and although they were unable to keep Williams or Wade down, Donald Little and Louis Graham worked hard to keep the Slingers in the game, contributing 27 out of the team’s 34 points by halftime.

Coming into the second half of the game, the Slingers tried hard to keep the Dragons at bay, but incredible plays from Williams and Wade saw the Dragons increase their lead even further.

The Dragon’s two international imports were on fire in this game and were virtually unstoppable. Tiras Wade completed the game with 34 points while teammate Brian Williams continued his collection of double-doubles with 30 points and 15 rebounds. For the Slingers, Louis Graham finished with 25 points and 9 rebounds.

WMD 86 – Wade 34, Williams 30, Cabahug 7, Pacana 6, Belasco 3, Ng 3, Batumalai 2, Chee 1, Lau 0, Kwaan 0, Loh 0, Kuppusamy 0

SGS 71 – Graham 25, Little 19, Dulay 6, Khoo 6, Canta 6, Oh 4, Lim 4, Matialakan 1, Wong 0, Ng 0

QS: 21-7, 47-34, 68-48, 86-71

Brian Williams continues to dominate for the
Westports Malaysia Dragons.

Patrick Cabahug is living it up as the designated
shooter for the Dragons.

BANGKOK COBRAS over SAIGON HEAT, 76-61

The Bangkok Cobras raised their intensity on defense and held the Saigon Heat to only 5 field goals in the second half. The Cobras’ Michael Earl led his team with 19 points. Gentry Lewis contributed with his double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Saigon were motivated early as they jumped to a 12 to 2 lead in the first quarter after a Jonathan Jones three point shot. Jones finished the first half with 21 points and the Heat were leading, 40-36.

Things changed drastically for Saigon after halftime. The Cobras made a few adjustments and they held Saigon to just one field goal in the third quarter. Shooter Ratdech Kruatiwa started the quarter by hitting back-to-back three point shots and Michael Earl added a twinner to give the Cobras their first lead in the game. Cobras pushed the lead to 11 points at the end of the third quarter after a basket from Darunpong Apiromvilaichai.

The Cobras had their biggest lead after Marvin Cruz made a shot with 4:14 left till the final buzzer to stretch the gap, 69-43. Saigon’s John Smith hit back-to-back three point shots in the last two minutes, but they weren’t enough to cut their deficit signifcantly.

Bangkok played excellent defense on Jones in the second half. Jones was limited to just 3 points and was able to manage only two shots after his hot start in the first half. Saigon did not get much from their new import Devon Sullivan, who finished with only 5 points and 9 rebounds. Sullivan and Saigon were also struggling from the free throw line managing to complete only 9 out of 24 attempts.

The Cobras also added two new ASEAN imports in Ken Bono and Jai Reyes. Reyes had a decent debut with the Cobras by scoring 13 points off the bench while Bono was scoreless. Reyes could be the spark off the bench that the Cobras need.

BKC 76 – Earl 19, Lewis 14, Reyes 13, Cruz 12, Kruatiwa 10, Apiromvilaichai 4, Chaiwat 2, Kongkum 1, Klahan 1, Wanna 0, Bono 0

SGH 61 – Jones 24, Javier 15, Smith 11, Trieu 6, Sullivan 5, Nguyen D 0, Capati 0, Ly 0

QS: 17-22, 36-40, 59-48, 76-61