i TV Pinoy

Source: Asean Basketball League

-- Today marked the third meeting between the Philippine Patriots and the Brunei Barracudas, with the match taking place at the Ynares Sports Arena, Manila Philippines. This was a crucial match for the Barracudas who needed a win here to secure a spot in the playoffs.

Their first meeting was at the Brunei Indoor Stadium on 13 December, where the weakened Philippine Patriots who were missing two of their star players feel to the Barracudas 70 – 95. But the Patriots soon had their revenge on 21 December when the teams met at the Ynares Sports Arena, and the Patriots emerge winners with a score of 70 – 56 against the Barracudas.

Today, the Patriots fielded a starting lineup of Jason Dixon, Erwin Sta Maria, Gabriel Freeman, Jerwin Gaco and Warren Ybanez to go up against Barracudas’ Francis Adriano, Celedon Camaso, Simon Conn, Leonidaz Avenido and Reggie Larry.

The Patriots won the jumpball against the Barracudas and quickly opened scoring to take an early lead, and with 7 minutes left to the first quarter, the Patriots were leading 10 - 5. The Barracudas quickly equalized and with 3:50 left to the quarter, they overtook the Patriots and ended the quarter 18 – 17.

In the second quarter the Patriots turned the tables on the Barracudas and continued to widen the gap and with 6:28 left the Patriots were holding a 6 point lead. The Barracudas fought back, but it was not enough, as the Patriots continued to dominate the match and ended the quarter 43 – 35 against the Barracudas.

After half time, the Patriots upped their defense and went all out, only allowing the Barracudas to score 9 points in the third quarter. The Patriots finished the quarter with a 19 point lead, ending 63 – 44 against the Barracudas.

The Patriots continued their lead in the fourth quarter, never giving the Barracudas a chance to catch up, and at the final buzzer, the Patriots emerge winners with a score of 87 – 65 against the Barracudas.

Today’s loss takes the Barracudas out of the playoffs, with the final four teams consisting of the Philippine Patriots, Singapore Slingers, Satria Muda BritAma and KL Dragons.