Patriots cruise to fifth straight win

BANGKOK – With import Nakeia Miller and guard Al Vergara coming up big in the stretch, the AirAsia-Philippine Patriots overcame a slow start to get back at defending champion Chang-Thailand Slammers, 81-72, Saturday night and solidify their hold of the lead in the AirAsia Asean Basketball League at the Thai Japanese Association Gym here.

The 6-foot-9 Miller, the reigning best import, and Vergara, a 5-foot-9 wily playmaker, drilled in five points each in the crunch as the Patriots streaked to their fifth straight victory and improved its league-best record to 6-1 (win-loss).

Versatile Anthony Johnson, as expected, led the way for the team co-owned by Mikee Romero and Tony Boy Cojuangco, dishing out an all-around outing of 21 points, 12 in the second half, on top of nine boards and six assists.

Miller, who settled himself down after an anemic first half, finished with 14 markers, eight boards and four steals while Vergara had 12 points and eight feeds.

The win was a redemption of sort for the Patriots, who lost to the Slammers in their best-of-three title series last year.

“I understand why we started bad (because of the travel),” stressed Patriots coach Glenn Capacio. “Pero nun nakuha na natin yung momentum, talagang pumukpok na yung mga bata. Naging maayos na yung ball movement at tumaas ang intensity.”

Despite posting several 13-point leads early, the Slammers faded in the face of the Patriots’ onslaught in the middle quarters. /abl media bureau