THE AIRASIA Philippine Patriots got ousted from the tournament as they got swept by the Indonesian Warriors with a 51-72 defeat in Game 2 of the best-of-three semifinals in the Asean Basketball League at the Britama Arena in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Import Steve Thomas imposed his will upon the listless defense of his former squad, scoring 19 points on top of 15 rebounds as the Warriors won the series, 2-0, to advance to the championship round.
It will be the first time in the three-year history of the league that the Patriots will not play in the finals.
A sluggish first half that saw them make only 1 of 17 from beyond the arc sealed the Patriots’ doom. Indonesia, led by Thomas, Evan Brock and the backcourt duo of Mario Wuysang and Stanley Pringle, capitalized on the Patriots’ awful shooting to grab a 32-19 lead at the half.
The Patriots tried to make a game out of it in the second half but import Nakiea Miller could not help the cause as he committed his fourth foul while fellow reinforcement Anthony Johnson played below par because of an ankle injury.
Miller had 12 points and nine rebounds while Johnson was held to 11 markers.
Kiko Adriano scored six points while Al Vergara added five points, five rebounds and three assists in a losing effort. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio