Singapore Slingers narrowly beat Satria Muda for perfect start to second ABL season

Story by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports. Photos by Tan Jon Han and Low Sze Sen/Red Sports

Singapore Indoor Stadium, Sunday, October 3, 2010 — The Singapore Slingers started their second ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) season on a brilliant note with a nail-biting 94-93 win over arch-rivals and last year’s runners-up Satria Muda at home.

ASEAN import Leo Avenido led the Slingers with 20 points, including five three-pointers and four rebounds, while Kyle Jeffers and Marcus Skinner got double-doubles with 19 points each together with 10 and 11 boards respectively. Al Vergara scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds while Steven Khoo was the top-performer for the locals with 11 points and two rebounds.

Although Satria Muda, who beat the Slingers in the semi-final playoffs last season, trailed for most of the match, they always kept within striking distance, thanks to new American import Marcus Morrison’s game-high 34 points which included 7-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. ASEAN import Francis Adriano contributed another 23 points for the Jakarta-based team.

However, their efforts were not enough to prevent the Slingers from taking the match by the slimmest of fashion.

The Slingers came out firing on all cylinders at the start of the match as they raced to a 6-0 lead within the first two and a half minutes and thanks to a three-pointer by Leo Avenido, Satria Muda’s bench called for a timeout.

It did wonders as the away side began to find their rhythm and got their first points through American import Jamal Holden with a drive to the basket at 4:40. They soon strung some points together and it was not long before last season’s finalist took the lead at 12-11 in emphatic fashion through a dunk from Jamal Holden at with 3:10 remaining in the first.

Jeffers snatched the lead back for the home side and they managed to hold the lead at the end of the first quarter at 23-20.

Both teams were almost immediately back on level terms with Francis Adriano tying the match at 23-23 with a three-pointer. The two sides then proceeded to trade the lead until midway through the quarter when Slingers strung together a 9-0 run.

With the scores level at 35-35, Jeffers started the run with a three-point play and followed it up with a dunk. Al Vergara also got in on the action with a pair of free throws and a layup on the break.

However, Morrison dragged Satria Muda back into the match as he drained three three-pointers. Adriano also added another jumper at the end of the second half to cut the Slingers lead down to just two points at the half at 50-48.

The third quarter saw a series of free throws at the start as both teams traded the lead from the charity stripe. This time, it was Satria Muda’s turn to make the run midway through the third period. The Slingers were unable to contain their opponents as the away side had their way with the Slingers’ defense, going on an 8-0 run.

After Morrison gave Satria Muda a 68-61 lead, Leo Avenido, who had just seven points in the first half, finally got going in the third when the Slingers needed him the most. He nailed three three-pointers and one free throw to single-handedly give the Slingers the lead at 71-70 towards the end of the quarter.

Satria Muda did manage to take the lead into the fourth quarter with a layup at the end of the third, but it did not last long. This time, Marcus Skinner was on hand to make the baskets. The American import performed poorly in the first three periods due to a knee injury, garnering just eight points, but he exploded with seven straight points within the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. Together with another three by Leo Avenido, which gave the Slingers an 81-75 lead, Satria Muda were forced into another timeout.

Satria Muda played much better basketball after the timeout and things got even better for them with 4:06 left in the match when Slingers’ captain Jeffers fouled out after collecting his fifth personal foul on Jamal Holden.

With just an 87-83 lead after Holden nailed both his free throws, questions were asked about whether the Slingers would crack under the pressure. However, the local side displayed character and responded brilliantly in the absence of their captain. Steven Khoo drilled a three-pointer while Marcus Skinner put in the rebound after Leo Avenido missed his driving layup for a 92-83 lead with less than two minutes remaining.

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