Like a true sixth man, the Satria Muda home crowd paralysed the Brunei Barracudas last weekend with their vociferous support. Satria Muda's head coach Fictor Roring believes the fans will be his team's "X factor" as they host the Singapore Slingers this Saturday.
Underpinning the Singapore Slingers’ four consecutive ABL victories is a message that boasts of their depth. The traveling Slingers are well on course to extend their winning ways as the Philippine Patriots have been dealt a double injury blow ahead of their crucial home tie this weekend.
Two points on the score sheet may have separated the Singapore Slingers from the Brunei Barracudas in their ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) match last weekend but if the game was measured by character, then both teams epitomised that and shared the win.
Philippine Patriots had only harsh words on themselves for their defeat against Singapore Slingers last week and will hope to mend their bruised ego in their debut home game against Thailand Tigers this weekend, while the Slingers will face their first road test in Brunei.
The visitors to Singapore this weekend may be the ABL title favourites, but the Philippine Patriots will be extra pleased to learn that the Brunei Barracudas had in fact cracked the Singapore Slingers code in their ABL season opener last weekend.
“Be surprised,†the Slingers’ head coach Frank Arsego had said of his captaincy choice before their ABL season tipped off last Sunday. Staying true to his word, Arsego has unveiled a unique co-captaincy formula with Kyle Jeffers and Michael Wong sharing the honour.
Despite the apparent talent of the four foreign imports of the Singapore Slingers, the 'Big Four' are endorsing the sacred words of the great Michael Jordan: "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships."
Contrary to what the local paper, Today, has reported, there is not a hint of certainty as to who will captain the Singapore Slingers in their first ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) campaign tipping off this weekend.