MANILA, Philippines – The AirAsia-Philippine Patriots try to clinch the No. 2 seeding and the homecourt edge in the playoffs when they tangle with the KL Dragons today in a crucial AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League Season 2 outing at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The Patriots are just a game ahead of the Dragons going to their 6 p.m. encounter to be aired live over ESPN, with both coming off heart-breaking losses.
The Patriots (8-5) fell to league-leader Chang Thailand Slammers in double overtime last week in Bangkok, 76-83, thus yielding the top seeding to the latter. Three days later, the Dragons (7-6) were ambushed at home by the Singapore Slingers, 93-90.
Coach Louie Alas said the Patriots can’t afford to lose to the Dragons given the repercussions brought about by their crucial loss to the Slammers. The Filipinos bowed to the Malaysians as they scored only a single basket in second overtime.
Co-team owner Mikee Romero met with the team coaching staff yesterday and challenged them to do better today.
They should.
The two teams split their two previous matches but the Patriots needed to overhaul a 22-40 first half deficit to pull off a 73-71 win at the Ynares Sports Arena last Dec. 9.
The Dragons blasted the reigning champions, 96-81, in their initial encounter behind the hot three-point shooting of Filipino import Patrick Cabahug.
The Patriots, however, come out for the third match with a new look, having returning import Gabe Freeman in town.