THE AIRASIA Philippine Patriots got some timely contributions from their locals as they thwarted the Chang Thailand Slammers, 80-74, in their final game in the elimination round of the Asean Basketball League last Saturday night at the Thai-Japan Association Gym in Bangkok.
With Nakiea Miller gone because of an ejection in the fourth canto and their other import Anthony Johnson slowed down because of an injury, the Patriots turned to their deep bench headed by Rob Wainwright, Marcy Arellano, Jonathan Fernandez and Aldrech Ramos to beat the Slammers for a third straight time and end their elimination campaign on a high note.
Ramos made a perimeter shot before Wainwright and Fernandez fired in consecutive three-point bombs as the Patriots padded their lead back to 11, 69-58, after the host threatened at 59-55.
The Patriots held the lead, 36-23, in the first half, behind the 11 markers of Arellano. The lead ballooned to 19 points, 49-30, middle of the third period but the Slammers closed the period with a 9-0 run to trim the deficit to eight, 49-57.
Johnson opened the scoring in the fourth period with a jumper but Miller was whistled for his fourth foul on what looked like a clean block against Slammers Apriromvilaicai with 9:20 left in the contest. For protesting the call, Miller was slapped two straight technical fouls leading to his ejection.
The Slammers were awarded six free throws, of which four were converted allowing them to close in at four points./Correspondent Jonas Panerio