Philippine teams AirAsia, SMB collide in ABL hoop

THE AIRASIA Philippine Patriots will be looking to hit two birds with one stone today when they take on the San Miguel Beermen today in the AirAsia Asean  Basketball League at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Patriots will be gunning for their seventh straight win. More importantly, they will be looking to exact vengeance against the Beermen, which dealt them a 70-78 loss in their first meeting in this tournament. That was their only loss so far.

The two squads are coming off big wins with the Patriots getting contributions from all around leading to their 80-72 win over the Bangkok Cobras.

Cebuano wingman Ardy Larong had 13 points while another player that has donned Cebu’s colors in the past, Warren Ybanez, added 10.

The Beermen, on the other hand, outlasted the Indonesia Warriors, 81-77, in overtime.  Darlon Johnson picked up the slack from newly acquired import, Jarrid Famous.

Johnson scored 27 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to offset Famous’ infamous statline of zero points and three turnovers.

Leo Avenido was also big in Wednesday’s win as he registered 17 points. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio