“As a fan, it has been painful but all we can do right now is get behind the team” – A thought from a Singapore Slingers fan

Story by Yvonne Yap/Red Sports. Pictures by Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports.

Singapore Indoor Stadium, Monday, December 7, 2009 – The 62-65 loss to the Thailand Tigers handed the Singapore Slingers their second home defeat of the season. It was also their third loss in four games. At the halfway point of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) season, it has allowed other ABL teams to catch up in the standings, causing a ripple of worry among the fans.

With back-to-back losses, Slingers’ fan Gabriel Chia commented: “The Slingers are definitely in a slump. I don’t think the Slingers’ recent poor performance is limited to the back-to-back home losses. Ever since they lost their away match against the Patriots, the team has been out of character.”

His sentiments were echoed by Joel Kong, 24, who also noted the lacklustre showing from the team since the narrow 74-69 win at home against the Philippine Patriots on October 18.

What was clear to a number of fans we caught up with was the inconsistency in the play from the Slingers. For example, local boy Hong Wei Jian scored a career high 18 points in the home game against KL Dragons, but failed to chalk up any points against the Thailand Tigers two weeks later.

With all four foreign imports starting in seven out of eight of the ABL games so far, there is no doubt about their talent, with game statistics as testimony. Fans have been split over the “foreign-vs-local” debate online, arguing which side has been holding the team up and how the locals have managed to shine on court.

However, some feel that it is time to accept the team as a whole, instead of segregating them into two camps.

“This is the Singapore Slingers not the Singapore national team, even though they have in a sense adopted our national team trainees. We the fans either adopt them all (imports and locals), or not at all,” Kelvin Poh argues.

“For all the reasons I have stated above, for now this team is good enough for me to identify with and support.”

The never-say-die attitude of the team made an impression on Joel. He pointed out the Slingers’ “good character” during the home game against the Tigers, reducing the deficit from 15 to three points at the end of the game.

“Although we are not walkovers for any team, the Slingers must persevere with their determination and never give up – just like how they have shown throughout the season – and also to cope with all kinds of defence that their opponents throw at them.”

Even with the mid-season rut, Slingers’ fans are still behind their team.

Gordon Tay voiced out: “Hope you all will be able to redeem the loss in the next match against the Thailand Tigers again. I will always be behind you all!”

“Don’t give up! The losses came at the right time. It is better to sort out the flaws of the team during the season instead of the playoffs. The losses are part and parcel of the growth process of the team. We can only see the Slingers improve from now on. The fans will cheer the team on rain or shine, all the way!” added Gabriel.