ABL: Slingers look ahead to long road trip after win over Slammers

Story by Erwin Wong, Ethan Lou and Kenneth Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Low Sze Sen/Red Sports

The Singapore Slingers’ hard-fought 87-81 victory over a strong Chang Thailand Slammers team on Sunday was a good send-off for the team’s only extended road trip of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) regular season.

“(The victory was) great because we have got two tough games on the road, and when we’re back, we will be playing against the (Philippine) Patriots, so we really needed this win,” said Slingers head coach Neo Beng Siang.

The Slingers will play Indonesian side Satria Muda BritAma this Saturday on November 6th, and then in Brunei against the Barracudas four days later. Both the Slingers’ opponents currently have the league’s worst record of only one win in five matches.

The Slingers will then return home and face the league-leading Patriots team two Sundays from now. The defending ABL champions are currently the only unbeaten team in the league.

“The win has helped our morale going into the Satria Muda game. It’s on their home court, so anything can happen, because of the travelling or players’ on and off performance,” continued Neo.

The match against Satria Muda will be the Slingers’ third attempt at a road win this season, and Neo’s mind was set on breaking his team’s winless away streak.

“The game will be tough but we’re looking forward to it, because we need to get at least an away win. We have already lost two away games.”

First-year Slinger Ng Han Bin was doubly optimistic about his team’s chances in the road trip after the victory against a tough opposition like the Slammers, their third straight at home.

“I’m sure we can get both wins. This win will certainly have boosted our confidence because the Slammers could actually be top of the table if not for their previous loss.”

Han Bin was instrumental in the win despite seeing only nine minutes of action. He made a crucial three-pointer in the fourth quarter which gave the Slingers a six-point cushion. It was a lead they never let slip despite several Slammer runs, and an advantage they managed to maintain till the final whistle.

“I felt great that I finally made my shot, because the shots you make determine your minutes, so I need to hit them when I’m open.”

The game was a three-point festival with both teams making 10 shots each from behind the arc, tying a Slingers team record. Slammers centre Jason Dixon, who made his first ever ABL three pointer, was among nine different players who sank long-range shots. However, none stood out more than Slingers’ hotshot Leonidez Avenido, who made five threes to boost his league-leading total to 22 in only five games.

“If he can shoot like that every night, it’s definitely good for us,” said centre Kyle Jeffers, on Avenido’s exceptional three-point shooting display. “Every time that ball goes in, it’s always a good thing.”

Neo was not surprised that Avenido was finding success beyond the three-point line. He said: “I expected that because he shoots the ball well. He felt confident on that, and when he gets open, he doesn’t think twice, and just shoots it. He has given us a lot this year, so we’re proud of him.”

The game featured 18 lead changes and 10 ties, and neither team led by double digits. The team which finishes such a game stronger almost always clinches it, and on Sunday, it was the Slingers.

“Leo (Avenido) is always encouraging us, and leading us by example,” said Han Bin. “Everyone just encouraged each other, so we were very motivated towards the end.”

The 15-game regular season is already a third completed, and team captain Jeffers is pleased with how things are shaping up in the Slingers camp.

“Everything is working its way through. We’re finding out what we’re good at, and what we need to work on, and I think pretty much we’re on the right track.”

“We just need to fine tune a couple more details, like being strong with the ball and less turnovers, and that will definitely help us to score the ball a little bit more. I think as long as we continue to improve on those little things, we will continue to move on the winning track.”

The Satria Muda team, featuring leading scorer Marcus Morrison, stands in the way of a first winning streak this season for the Slingers. Morrison broke two ABL records in his first league game, a 93-94 loss to the Slingers on the opening weekend. He made a league-record seven three pointers en route to 34 points, and will no doubt be on the minds of the Slingers defence.

“We have to shut Morrison down,” said Slingers defensive specialist Desmond Oh matter-of-factly. “Defence is the most important thing.”