Source: philstar.com
-- The Philippine Patriots relied on Nonoy Baclao and Warren Ybanez down the stretch to repeat over the Kuala Lumpur Dragons, 76-70, in the first ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) Championship at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Baclao, back in the fold after missing the team’s 70-95 loss to the Brunei Barracudas last Sunday, helped foil the Dragons’ offensive thrice before hitting a side jumper that gave the hosts a 66-63 lead.
The Dragons fought back at 66-68 but Ybanez buried after a triple after missing three attempts from the long range as the Patriots got back on the winning track with their eighth win against two losses.
“We failed to execute our plays, but in the end, we got the breaks,” said the RP Patriots coach Louie Alas. “Nonoy provided the intangibles again while our two imports also delivered.
The Patriots drew another double-double performance from Jason Dixon, who had 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Brandon Powell took charge in the first half and ended up with 20 points.
The Patriots now need just to win three of their last five games to clinch the No. 1 seeding in the semis.
Meantime, the Patriots try to get back at the Brunei Barracudas when they clash tomorrow, also at the same venue.
The Barracudas ended the Patriots’ six-game winning run with a rousing win in Brunei.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
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