Basketball: Slingers snatch 84-83 win over Saigon Heat to return to winning ways in ABL Invitational
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Singapore Slingers' Jackson Mah produced 13 points and four rebounds to help them beat Saigon Heat 84-83.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE SLINGERS
SINGAPORE – With six minutes to go, the Singapore Slingers were trailing 80-71 to Saigon Heat in Indonesia on Friday and looked headed for a third straight defeat in the Asean Basketball League (ABL) Invitational.
In their previous game against Filipino team Zamboanga Valientes at the OCBC Arena on Sunday, the Slingers had led at half-time before a defensive collapse saw them losing their second consecutive game.
But not this time, as local players Jackson Mah, Delvin Goh and Larry Liew stepped up to score a combined 11 points in the last five minutes.
Veteran Xavier Alexander was also alert to convert a rebound and snatch the lead with 12 seconds left at the Hi-Test Arena in Batam.
They managed to hold on to their lead, eventually triumphing 84-83 to return to winning ways and end the Heat’s unbeaten run this season.
Coach Neo Beng Siang commended the Slingers’ fighting spirit and ability to fix defensive errors while running the floor.
He said: “We hung on and fought back and I’m really proud of the energy and effort of the players and that they didn’t give up.
“This win will basically help everyone (in terms of) morale and energy level. It’s definitely an improvement compared to the last two games because we came out really focused.
“This time, we’re away from home, so we mingled and ate together and that really helped us with our bonding.”
The Slingers endured a shaky start after the Heat had raced to a 10-0 lead. But they regained their composure and narrowed the gap to just one point, trailing 22-21 after the first quarter.
Less than two minutes after the restart, American Kentrell Barkley produced a solo effort to help his side take the lead for the first time at 29-27.
The other players, including locals Kelvin Lim and Mah, also contributed to help preserve the Slingers’ 46-43 lead at half-time.
But things went awry in the third quarter as the Heat’s Evan Gilyard Jr, Hassan Thomas and Jairus Holder stepped up with crucial three-pointers.
The Slingers’ defensive lapses also allowed the Heat to outscore them 28-20 and lead 71-66.
The Singapore team then tightened their defence in the last quarter, limiting the Heat to just 12 points while scoring 18.
As the clock ran down, Liew’s three-point attempt was off target. But Alexander converted the rebound with a jump shot to help the Slingers take a one-point lead that they did not relinquish in the last 12 seconds.
The Slingers’ top performer Barkley finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds, followed by Mah with 13 points and four rebounds. Americans Alexander and Chanceler Gettys as well as Lim had 10 points each.
Singapore Slingers veteran Xavier Alexander scored the winning basket.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE SLINGERS
Alexander, who admitted that he had been struggling in the first four games, praised his team for their resilience.
“Basketball is a long game. Going down by 10 in the beginning was disappointing but it’s never over until the last minute, so we wanted to keep fighting,” said the captain.
“I’m happy for our team and also proud of our locals for fighting every play and never giving up.
“As a team, we didn’t like our performance the last two games in Singapore, so we came together and each person can put in a little bit more effort and we were able to come away with the win.”
Mah, 19, was pleased with the victory, but added that he will need to improve on his defending and lay-ups.
The Slingers were third out of eight teams after the Singapore tournament and will be looking to remain in the top four after the four games in Batam.
They next face the Macau Black Bears on Sunday.
