By Ian Chew
The ball bounces out of Louis Graham’s (Slingers #24) reach. (Photo 1 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Singapore Indoor Stadium, Wednesday, March 6, 2012 — If there ever was a crisis facing the Singapore Slingers, it is definitely happening now.
The Slingers turned in one of their worst performances at home to lose to ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) cellar dwellers Saigon Heat 67-72.
With the defeat, the Slingers are now fifth in the league table and in danger of missing out on the playoffs of the ABL competition. Only the top four teams of the league go on to compete in the semi finals of the competition.
Saigon Heat had jumped to an early 13-4 lead in the first quarter but local lad Wong Wei Long’s long 3-pointer sparked a comeback effort by the hosts. The Slingers then rallied to end the quarter 16-15 ahead for their first lead of the game.
The Slingers may have managed to hold on to a slim 35-32 lead at the end of the first half but some troubling signs were apparent. The hosts converted only 36% of their shot attempts but were matched by an equally inept Saigon Heat who converted on 31% of their shooting. The Slingers also shot a poor 8-of-15 from the free throw line, led by Donald Little (#14) who missed both his attempts in the first half. He eventually finished the game with 13 points, eight rebounds and four turnovers.
The visitors then took advantage of a strangely lethargic Slingers at the start of the third quarter with a decisive 7-0 run to wrest back the lead. This time though, Saigon Heat would not relinquish their advantage, finishing the third quarter with a 58-51 lead.
The Slingers did respond with renewed urgency in the fourth, sparked by a Donald Dulay’s (#11) 3-pointer and driving lay up late in the game to close to a 67-67 tie. Yet it proved to be futile as Heat’s outstanding point guard John Smith (#5) drove into the paint for a basket and a foul to put his team up 70-67.
The Slingers’ dismal night was summed up by their final possession of the game. Having a chance to level the score with a 3-point shot to send the game to overtime, the Slingers fumbled the ball instead and was forced into committing a foul as a result. Heat’s Jahmar Thorpe (#22) then converted both his free throws for a 72-67 win — only his team’s second win of the league.
The Slingers will next play away to the Bangkok Cobras on Sunday, March 11th, for the first of a three-game road trip. Their next home match will be against the Philippine Patriots on Sunday, March 25th.
Quarter by Quarter Scores
Slingers vs Heat
1st Q: 16-15
2nd Q: 19-17 (35-32)
3rd Q: 16-26 (51-58)
4th Q: 16-14 (67-72)
Looking for the Slingers’ fixture schedule? All here: Singapore Slingers 2012 ABL Fixtures
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