The Singapore Slingers extended their winning streak to three (of three games) in their Asean Basketball League campaign with a 80-82 away victory over the Brunei Barracudas yesterday afternoon. With a game scheduled for the Slingers every week and the completion of round three yesterday, it means that my entry on last week’s (round two) game against the Philippine Patriots is way overdue. My bad on that.
Of course this would not have been possible without the hook up from Nic and Daphne for arranging, so much love to you guys. Last week, the Singapore Slingers managed to take down the formidable Philippine Patriots in an extremely intense and hard fought game. Bad refereeing aside (can’t blame Singaporean referees now) resulting in costly possession losses for both teams, the game was held extremely close until a late Slinger explosion that sent the visiting team packing with promises for revenge in their next meeting.
Patriots’ imports #42 Jason Lamar Dixon and #1 Brandon Charles Powell were their only double digit contributors for the game with 12 and 15 points respectively. Brandon had a double double that night pulling down 11 rebounds while Jason had nine. The rest of the Patriots players may not have put up as many points as their two American imports but their defence was impeccable leading to a Slingers’ inbound collapse in the fourth quarter and taking back a number of possessions. If the Slingers want another ‘W’ in their next in their next match up away, this is one key issue they must address.
Left: Jason going to the rim | Right: Trying to get in the paint
Left: Brandon fires from long range | Right: Flushes a contested two
Left: #Khasim Mirza firing from the paint as Leblanc takes to the floor | Right: #4 Christian Coronel laying up contested
Patriot point guard #3 Warren Ibanez who scored eight points was unfortunately taken out of the game halfway due to a broken nose (I think). I’m not too sure how it happened even when watching from under the rim but it sent him sliding to the photographers giving me an excellent vantage point. Although I felt bad for firing my camera away as he laid there waiting for the medical staff to arrive, but to be honest, I don’t think I can contribute much, recovery position maybe? Feel better dude, we’ll meet again.
Left: A medical staff tending to Warren | Right: Blood flowing from his nose as he stood
Although there weren’t any local Slingers player who had double digits that night, all our imports did with #19 Al Vergara putting up 11, #21 Marcus Ng scoring 13, #35 Michael LeBlanc making 15 and the #31 Kyle Jeffers leading the charge with 17 points. It was another double double night again for the ‘newly made-over’ Jeffers (more of that later) with him crashing the boards taking down 12 rebounds. Despite the fourth quarter defensive lock down by the Patriots, the Slingers managed to pull through with Marcus Ng (yeah I know) putting the game to bed with a superb dunk and a making couple of free throws in the last couple of minutes.
Left: Vegara with a floater | Right: Going for a lay up despite the heavy contest
Left: Marcus heading to the rim | Right: Hammers it in
Left: Leblanc hooks it from the right | Right: Getting fouled while firing
Left: Jeffers makes a two | Right: Going from under
There were two note worthy moments of that night. Local Slinger boy #5 Wong Wei Long who scored eight points made seven of them during the final minutes of the first half. His first successful three-point caused him to head to the ground with a foul in his favour. I’m sure he must have been practicing free throws the whole of that week after missing all his attempts during the last game against the Brunei Barracudas. Thankfully, he converted a rare four-point play after making his one and only free throw of the night. Seconds after gaining possession again, he sank in another trey to the amazement of the crowd.
Left: Wei Long’s first trey before he heads to the ground | Right: Wondering if the ghost of his previous game will haunt him
Spotting a clean shaven look and hairdo, Kyle Jeffers turned up last week in a very much boy’ish look. I was initially dumbfounded, thinking we had purchased another import. But it was until fellow photographer, Francis who set me straight did I realise that he is actually Jeffers. That was same time when he turned around and I saw #31, Jeffers at the back of his jersey. Nice look dude.
Left: Pretty good looking if you would to ask me | Right: Another look but in action
The Singapore Slingers returned home with a 3-0 record and their next match next Sunday will be against the visiting Satria Muda BritAma from Indonesia. Can they extend their winning streak to four? There is only one way to find out. Tickets are available at Sistic.
Goooo Slingers!!
You can read more about the game in Len’s blog here, and more photos in my Flickr album here.
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Good game for the Slingers. the red away jersey is so much nicer than the yellow home. See you at the next game Jason!
Jeffers with his new look certainly looks like Eric Sandrin from afar. For once I thought Eric Sandrin was back.
@Gordon and Slingerrocks: opps..sorry for the late reply. See you folks tomorrow..