By ABL

patriots vs barracudas

Anthony Johnson (right, Patriots) tries to steal the ball from Christopher Garnett (Barracudas). Johnson had a game-high 24 points while Garnett was the best scorer for the Barracudas with 23. (Photo © Ali Vicoy, courtesy of ABL)

Pasig City, Saturday, October 2, 2010 — A new-look Philippine Patriots started off slowly but eventually triumphed 71-62 over the visiting Brunei Barracudas on the opening day of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).

The Patriots nearly squandered a 12-point lead when the Barracudas went on a scoring spree in the final period but former University of Santo Tomas star Allen Maliksi rose to the occasion to help the team weather the late Barracudas charge.

Maliksi provided the killing blow for the squad co-owned by Harbour Centre boss Mikee Romero and Tony Boy Cojuangco by hitting a huge basket before completing a three-point play.

Those baskets enabled the defending champions to pull away for good to the delight of the crowd.

The win likewise enabled the Patriots to forge a three-way tie for the early lead with the Thailand Slammers and the Singapore Slingers.

?The Slammers, behind reinforcements Chris Kuete and former Patriots import Jason Dixon, defeated the KL Dragons in overtime, 79-74, last Saturday while the Slingers edged past last year’s runner-up Satria Muda BritAma of Indonesia, 94-93, also last night.

?”We we’re very sluggish defensively. We were up by 12 points (43-31 in the third quarter) and suddenly it became a one-point lead,” said Patriots head coach Louie Alas. “We still don’t have the desire to play defense. Like I told them earlier, don’t make this into a showcase.” ?

The Patriots survived a gallant showing by the Barracudas, powered by the massive heft of the bulky Chris Garnett who finished with 23 points and nine rebounds in a no-relief showing.

?Anthony Johnson registered a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds while dishing out three assists in 36 minutes of action. He helped the Patriots take a commanding lead in the second quarter highlighted by two breakaway dunks to take a 39-31 lead at the half.

?His partner, 6-foot-11 center Donald Little, overcame a sluggish debut in the paint to finish with 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Alas hopes to see a better showing from him when they battle the Singapore Slingers on Saturday at the same venue.

?Ex-pro Junjun Cabatu led all locals in scoring by making all of his nine points in the first quarter as he helped the Patriots overcome a poor start to grab a slim 21-20 advantage.

?Also providing the spark were Erwin Sta Maria with nine points and three boards, fellow holdover from last season’s title squad in Warren Ybanez who had three points, five rebounds and six assists and big man Chito Jaime with three points and six boards.

?Chris Commons had 15 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and three steals, ex-Letran Knight Bryan Faundo made 11 points and 13 boards and guard Kevin White chipped in 10 markers for the Barracudas.

Scoring by Quarters
Patriots vs Barracudas
1st Q: 21-20
2nd Q: 18-11 (39-31)
3rd Q: 15-16 (54-47)
4th Q: 17-15 (71-62)

Patriots 71 – Johnson 24, Little 11, Cabatu 9, Sta Maria 9, Billones 5, Maliksi 5, Ybanez 3, Jaime 3, Fernandez 2, Salangsang 0, Sta Cruz 0, Alcaraz 0.

Barracudas 62 – Garnett 23, Commons 15, Faundo 11, White 10, Tan 3, Tolomia 0, Fong 0, Suhaili 0, Lim 0.

Ed’s note: Full box scores are not available because the organisers said the system went down.