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Source: Joey Villar, philstar.com
-- The Philippine Patriots have resumed their daily workout in an effort to stay in shape and keep their competitive form nearing the playoff phase of the Asean Basketball League.

ABL action resumes on Jan. 6 with the Patriots playing the Singapore Slingers at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

“We’ve resumed practice after taking a brief holiday break because we want to stay in shape and sustain our momentum going into our next game,” said Patriots coach Louie Alas.

The Filipinos walloped the Bong Ramos-mentored Brunei Barracudas, 70-56, at home last week to solidify their grip of the top spot with a 9-2 (win-loss) record.

The emphatic triumph put the Patriots, co-owned by Harbour Centre chief executive officer and president Mikee Romero and businessman Tony Boy Cojuangco, closer to clinching the top seeding and the home court advantage.

“The main goal is to finish the elimination round as top seeds and clinch the home court advantage which would be vital in our campaign,” said Alas.

The Patriots need only 3 more wins to secure the top seeding.

After their game against the Slingers, the Filipinos take on the Malaysians in Malaysia on Jan. 9 and then the Thais in Thailand on Jan. 17 before capping their elimination round stint with a home game against the Thais at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.

Though distant second with a 6-4 record, the Slingers are still capable of surging past the Patriots, and this is why Alas isn’t leaving anything to chance.

The Barracudas and the Malaysians are at joint third with 4-6 marks while the Tigers are still in the semifinal hunt with a 3-9 slate.

In their last game, American import Jason Dixon came through 17 points and 13 rebounds, a performance that opened up the lanes for Rob Wainwright who knocked in four triples and a total of 16 points.

The Patriots avenged a 75-90 blowout they suffered at the hands of the Barracudas in their previous meeting last Dec. 13 at the Brunei Indoor Stadium.